Oversight in care, improper preparation of berry plants for winter, favorable climatic conditions contribute to the appearance of a spider mite on strawberries, which is often called strawberry. Despite its microscopic dimensions, the pest is very insidious. Creatures invisible to the naked eye suck out juices from plants meticulously, which leads to their drying out and even death. How to deal with a spider mite on a strawberry is determined by the degree of damage, the size of the plantations, the personal preferences of the gardener.
Appearance and features of life
Arthropods from the class of arachnids are not characterized by large dimensions. The body length barely reaches 0.5-8.8 mm. Color spider mites various: yellow, green. In the fall, females become red in color. A detailed review of pests allows a photo of spider mites on strawberries. Only fertilized females hibernate, hiding in plant debris. They are very resistant to low temperatures, so the chances of survival are high.
When the thermometer reaches 14-15 ° C, the females begin vigorous activity: they populate leaf plates, often from the inside, since they do not like aggressive sunlight, make egg laying, covering them with cobwebs. Fertility of each is estimated at 100-150 pcs.
On a note!
Depending on climatic conditions, the entire development cycle from an egg to an adult is 6-20 days. Therefore, pest colonies grow rapidly, and they quickly populate all nearby plants.
Signs of infection
And although it is not possible to consider spider mites without optical devices, their presence on strawberries gives out characteristic signs:
- They feed on pests from plant juices; whitish spots appear on the sites of their punctures due to a lack of chlorophyll.
- Gradually, the lesion grows and the entire sheet acquires a marble whitish color.
- The appearance of the web on the stems, foliage is the hallmark of the strawberry tick.
If you ignore the pest and do not take any measures, the leaf plates will begin to curl, dry out and die. The berries are formed small, often dry before ripening. Violation of photosynthesis provokes a decrease in the immunity of plants, because of which they are subject to fungal and viral infections.
On a note!
Warm, dry summers often become one of the reasons for the mass reproduction of spider mites.
The appearance of pests on strawberries is facilitated by the acquisition of infected planting material, arachnids can be carried on tools, shoes, or inhabit the berry for more than a season.
Among the methods of combating spider mites on strawberries, strawberries, the use of chemical and biological agents is the most effective. During flowering and fruiting, folk remedies are safer. Opponents of insecticides, pesticides, and other inventions of the chemical industry enjoy the popularization of phytoseyulus tick mite, which actively destroys the cobweb, aphids, whitefly. However, many people are stopped by the cost of a bioagent –5000 rubles per can with 2000 ticks.
Effective Strawberry Treatments
When choosing a remedy for spider mites, you should read the instructions. Not all drugs are allowed during certain growing periods. Chemicals are not allowed to be used during flowering and 20 days before harvest. If acaricidal drug does not have a prolonged effect, precipitation is able to level its destroying and protective properties.
On a note!
When processing strawberry bushes, the lower part of the stems and the lower side of the leaves should be sprayed with special care. It is there that spider mites are grouped.
According to gardeners, the following drugs will help get rid of the spider mite on strawberries:
- Nissoran - a modern remedy that inhibits the reproductive system, preventing ticks from multiplying. It has a detrimental effect on larval forms. Safe for beneficial insects and pollinators. It does not cause resistance in pests. A significant decrease in the population size is noticeable on the 7-10th day after treatment, acaricidal properties persist up to 5 decades. Nissoran is sold in bags with different packaging. Packaging 5 g costs 120 rubles, allows you to get 5 liters of working solution. Apollo acts similarly (55 rubles per 2 ml).
- Fitoverm - Another biological product. The smallest bottle of 4 ml costs from 12 rubles. It is diluted with water according to the instructions. It shows the greatest efficiency at a temperature of 30-35 ° C. It does not destroy spider mite eggs, therefore, after 7-10 days, the treatment is repeated.
- Scelta is a Dutch product; it is sold on internetworks in 2 ml bottles at a price of 120 rubles. Safe preparation for pollinators and predatory ticks. Resistant to ultraviolet radiation and precipitation. The working solution adheres well to the treated leaves due to the adhesive included in the composition. The manufacturer recommends no more than 2 system treatments per season. 2 sprayings with an interval of 7-10 days, the subsequent block no earlier than in a month.
- Actellic is a broad-spectrum drug, available in the form of a concentrated emulsion. For home use, 2 ml ampoules are purchased, each price from 30 rubles. It has an unpleasant odor, the working solution cannot be stored. You can eat strawberries after 20 days after spraying.
- Demitan - a contact agent with DV phenazachine allows you to get rid of the spider mantle and gall forming mites on strawberries. It does not cause addiction in pests, prolonged action lasts up to 40 days, does not pose a danger to beneficial entomofauna. It is sold in liter canisters at a price of 5,000 rubles.
Spider mite demitan - Spark bio - Packed in 10 ml vials, 5 ml ampoules. The approximate price of 92 p. Effective against ticks, aphids. It helps to cope even with those pests that have developed resistance to other drugs. Processing during flowering and fruiting is possible. A few hours after spraying, the arachnids stop eating and moving, and subsequently die. A similar action scheme for Akarin, worth 20 rubles. for a capacity of 4 ml, as well as in the biological product Bicol, Tick-borne.
- Omight - 39 rubles per 2 ml. To kill ticks, one treatment is enough, due to the residual effect of up to 40 days, the resistance of the drug to moisture and direct sunlight.
- Anti-tick - narrow-profile product at a price of 65-95 rubles. per 10 ml, which can be processed 100 m².
- Neoron - in addition to the destruction of pests, it contributes to the strengthening and growth of green mass. Price 75-80 rub.
Important!
Strawberry processing is carried out in closed clothes, a respirator, glasses.
Folk remedies
Despite the abundance of store-bought preparations, the popularity of folk recipes for getting rid of spider mites does not fade. Many compounds are identical to those for destruction aphids on strawberries. The most effective are recognized:
- Onion infusion. 100 g of husk or 50 g of finely chopped onions are mixed with 5 l of water, insist 48 hours.Then the infected bushes are filtered and sprayed.
- 400 g of marigold flowers or marigolds pour 2 l with warm water. After 5 days, strain, add another 4 liters of water and process the strawberries.
- Dandelion infusion is prepared from 500 g of chopped green parts and roots, 10 l of warm water. After 3-4 hours, the product is ready for use. It is not subject to long storage.
- Garlic plantings around the perimeter can scare off a number pests, including a spider mite. A solution is also prepared from garlic: 50 g of crushed slices and 5 l of water. After the product has been infused for 24-48 hours, it must be filtered and used to spray strawberries. It is not recommended to treat the berry with this product during berry ripening.
On a note!
In all infusions prepared according to popular recipes, it is recommended to add crushed laundry, tar or liquid soap. So the tool will better stick on the leaves.
To clean strawberry plantations from spider mites, 3-4 treatments are needed. In dry weather, the interval between sprayings is 5-6 days. If the temperature is below 24 ° C, the procedure is repeated after 8-9 days.
Some gardeners artificially create unbearable conditions for ticks: strawberries are abundantly watered and covered with a film in such a way as to stop the access of oxygen and create a greenhouse effect. The plants are kept in this mode for about 2 days. During this time, pests, unable to withstand high temperatures, die. However, after applying this method, rehabilitation measures may be needed by the strawberry itself.
Prevention
To prevent the appearance of a tick in the berry, it is necessary:
- Remove weeds regularly.
- Carefully inspect new planting material.
- Avoid planting in the shade, crowding of plantings.
It is necessary to deal with the spider mite immediately after its discovery. It is not worth hoping that pests will die in the winter. In autumn, all plant debris should be carefully removed. Many gardeners cut old leaves, aerial parts. Heavily damaged bushes are ruthlessly removed.
Reviews
Strawberry cultivation has started recently. Finding a web on the bushes, she began to worry about the future harvest. However, a neighbor in the country reassured me and advised me to buy Omayt. The tool coped with its task perfectly, it did not even have to be reprocessed.
Olga, Pavlovsk
The spider mite attacked my beds with strawberries. I didn’t plan to go to the store, I remembered the earlier treated from aphids and prepared an infusion of dandelions. Thoroughly washed all the leaves and after 2 days the bushes came to life. After 5 days, she repeated the procedure - and forgot about the pests.
Elena, Boguchary
