How to deal with a spider mite on apple trees

Many residents of the private sector and summer residents are trying to set up a small garden near the house so that they always have fresh fruits and berries. Plums, cherries, apple trees and pears are recognized as favorite booths that take root in almost any climate without problems. Sometimes it happens that you can’t wait for the result of your work due to the invasion of pests, especially the spider mite on the apple tree and other fruit trees is especially annoying.

What does an apple tick look like?

Spider mite There are several varieties, each of which will slightly differ in appearance and manifestations on the tree. The formation of small cobwebs on the outside of the leaf during infection unites the pests. A photo of a spider mite on an apple tree can have different colors, it all depends on the species that hit the bole:

• Red fruit tick. The parasite is small, the adult reaches a maximum of 0.4 mm, is not visible to the naked eye. An oval body shape and a specific reddish tint are visible under a magnifying glass or microscope. It is possible to recognize that the garden was struck by just this type of spider mite by the following signs: yellow spots of the correct form appear along the veins, gradually the leaf will begin to die and fall off.
• Brown fruit. On fruit trees, finding this species is easy. If the gardener noticed red or gray shades on the leaves, drying of the buds, then this is definitely a spider brown mite. It has a brown color of a flattened body, grows to 0.6 mm in length.

Also, apple trees hit gall mites:

• The parasite leads a secretive lifestyle. The affected leaves are characterized by the formation of spherical swellings, in which the gall mite colony is located. The single individual is very small, the body length is only 0.25 mm, oval, slightly narrowed at the end. The color is white, and the educated galls have a multi-colored color.
• Kidney tick almost completely destroys the buds on the branches, an escape from it will no longer be able to develop, and if it does, it will be sick and unable to bear fruit. Pest can be recognized by abnormally large buds on trees and bushes.
• Mite Schlechtendal. This species is less common, but is found in many gardens. The length can reach 0.2 mm, the body is painted yellow-brown. A tick feature is the fertility of females; each season can lay up to 2 million eggs under appropriate weather conditions.

Measures to combat the spider mite on the apple tree

Arachnids can cause severe damage to the garden, which is why it is necessary fight the spider miteas soon as traces of his presence were revealed. There are several solutions:

• chemical, the most effective, but has a number of warnings and prohibitions;
• biological is an innovation in processing methods;
• agricultural, which can be used for prevention;
• folk methods that have passed the test of time.

Each of them has its own characteristics and contraindications, precautions for use. Each gardener decides how to deal with the spider mite on apple trees, but it is advisable to study all the methods in more detail beforehand.

Chemical attack

This method involves the processing of chemicals that completely rid the garden of pests and parasites of various kinds. The preparations used are very toxic, it is strictly forbidden to harvest the crop immediately after processing. Before treating a diseased plant, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the instructions and strictly observe all proportions when preparing the working solution.

Chemicals are divided into two types:

• Acaricidesthat affect only ticks, including spider mites. The most effective are Sunmight, Onmight, Avrik, Anikleshch, Tick-borne.
• Insecticides can save the garden not only from ticks, they can destroy other pests. Most often used Fufanon, Aktara, Karate-Zeon, Karbofos.

Important!

Chemical treatment is carried out in dry, calm weather, using personal protective equipment.

Biology to the rescue

Apple tick is afraid of a drug of natural origin Fitoverm. The basis of the drug is toxic waste of fungal activity, which also has a detrimental effect on the spider mite. The disadvantage of this tool is that it will work at an air temperature above +15, but +25 will double its strength. That is why the remedy is not suitable for treatments in early spring.

Agrotechnical measures

This method serves as a prophylaxis of the spider mite, rather than a method of eliminating it. Activities are carried out in early spring and late autumn in order to reduce the number of parasites overwintered or prepared for winter hibernation. The agricultural method is as follows:

• chaffinch plowing, as some species of ticks hide in the upper layers of the soil;
• pruning and burning infected branches and leaves;
• elimination of weeds in the garden;
• careful cleansing of skeletal branches from the old bark, under which ticks often hide.

The method of preventive actions also includes the artificial increase of plant immunity by the application of foliar top dressing during the flowering period.

Important!

In this way, eliminating the spider mite from the site does not work, this method is often used as an auxiliary or preventive in combination with other, more aggressive methods of control.

Folk remedies

Ardent opponents of chemistry use folk, time-tested recipes to get rid of different garden pests. A spider mite can also be discouraged from apple trees and pears in this way, for this the following recipes are used:

1. An excellent effect is the garlic solution, which is prepared from 50 g of peeled garlic cloves and 10 l of water. It is necessary to insist for several hours, then a small amount of liquid laundry soap is added. Further processing can be carried out.
2. Weekly without damage to the crop and the environment, you can spray from the spider mite with a solution of tar soap. 100 g of substance are dissolved in a bucket of water.
3. The spider mite will disappear from the site if treated with onion infusion. It is prepared from 200 g of fresh onion husks and 10 l of water. Insist at least an hour, filter and apply as directed.
4. Horseradish infusion is also detrimental to ticks. 400 g of chopped horseradish are placed in a bucket of water, filtered and applied after 3-4 hours.
5. A poisonous black bleached will help in the fight against ticks on apple trees, 2 kg of fresh raw materials are poured with water and boiled for a couple of hours, filtered. The resulting broth is diluted to a volume of 10 liters.

On a note!

Folk remedies will help at the initial stage of infection. If the spider mite has spread over several boles, it is better to use chemical preparations from the store.

Reviews

Each of the above methods of struggle has its supporters and those who are categorically against such a processing method.

As soon as I retired, I immediately moved to the country, then my garden had been waiting for me for a long time, which was laid with my husband in my youth.I was horrified to find in the spring that some apple trees suffer from spider mites. I did not hesitate for a long time, I remembered the recipe with which my grandfather had eliminated this pest. Tar soap gave the result very quickly.

Larisa Alexandrovna, Tula

All her life she lived in an apartment, and got married and moved to the private sector, where there is a garden, a garden, and flower beds. Ignorance almost destroyed several young apple trees that were attacked by a spider mite. Thanks to the sellers from a specialized store in the area, they suggested how to process the trees. Sunmayth helped almost immediately, we harvested excellent.

Veronika, Omsk

The spider mite has always plagued our garden, since childhood I remember how my father worked on fruit trees. Now the house is on me, and the garden too. Experienced gardeners advised treating the trees with a less aggressive, natural-based drug called Fitoverm. I saw the effectiveness in the summer, in the spring, the drug did not cope with the task, as the advertisement claims.

Yuri, Voronezh