1. Insect
  2. Vegetable Crops
  3. Vegetable Crops
  4. Hosts and Pests of Vegetable Crops

Cucumber-Spider mite

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Image related to Cucumber-Spider mite
Tetranychus unknown
© Ken Gray Insect Image Collection

Tetranychus spp.

Pest description, crop damage and life history

See:

Common Pests of Vegetable Crops

Pest monitoring Infestations usually begin on lower leaves of plants, then progress upwards. Inspect lowest leaves for stippling and webbing first.

Management-cultural control

Avoid early season applications of insecticides, which will reduce populations of beneficial insects. Spider mite infestations are favored by dry, dusty conditions, so avoid creating these problems and stressing the plants. Excessive nitrogen fertilization may cause population buildup.

Home gardeners can wash plants with a strong stream of water.

Management-biological control

Spider mite populations commonly are kept under control by predator mites. Spider mite outbreaks are not uncommon following an insecticide application for control of other insect pests. Release of commercially available predator mites to prevent spider mite outbreaks deserves further testing.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

  • azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • bifenthrin (often as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
  • insecticidal soap-Apply when mites first appear. Thorough coverage, especially to undersides of leaves, is essential. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • horticultural oil-some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Plant-derived essential oils (such as clove, garlic and rosemary) have efficacy against spider mites. Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.

Note: Pesticides can injure cucurbits. Be sure foliage is dry at the time of application.

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • abamectin (Agri-Mek EC, Epi-Mek 0.15EC) at 0.009 to 0.019 lb ai/a for low to moderate infestations and 0.019 lb ai/a for severe infestations. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit two sequential applications per season. Do not exceed 0.019 lb ai/application or 0.056 lb ai/a per year.
  • acequinocyl (Kanemite 15SC) at 0.3 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 21 days. Do not exceed 0.6 lb ai/a per season.
  • bifenazate (Acramite 50WS) at 0.375 to 0.5 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed one treatment per season.
  • bifenthrin (Brigade WSB, Sniper) at 0.08 to 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.3 lb ai/a per year. Do not make more than two applications after bloom. Retreatment interval 7 days.
  • bifenthrin /avermectin (Athena) at 0.09 to 0.12 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.35 lb ai/a Athena, 0.056 lb ai/a avermectin, or 0.3 lb ai/a bifenthrin per season.
  • bifenthrin/zeta-cypermethrin (Hero EW) at 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 3 days. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per season. Limit 2 treatments after bloom.
  • Burkholderia spp. (Venerate XC) at 1 to 4 quarts/a product. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • Chromobacterium subtsugae (Grandevo) at 0.6 to 0.9 lb ai/a per 100 gal. PHI 0 days. REI 4 hr. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • etoxazole (Zeal) at 0.09 to 0.135 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 1 treatment per season.
  • geraniol/ citronellol/nerolidol/farnesol (Biomite) at 1 to 1.25 quarts/100 gal formulated product. REI 4 hr.
  • fenpropathrin (Danitol 2.4EC) at 0.2 to 0.3 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 24 hr. PPE required. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 0.8 lb ai/a per year.
  • fenpyroximate (Miteus) at 0.1 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Retreatment interval 14 days. Limit 2 treatments per year. Do not exceed 0.21 lb ai/a per crop cycle.
  • Isaria fumosorosea (PFR-97 20% WDG) at 1 to 2 lb/acre of product. REI 4 hr. Retreatment interval 3 to 10 days. OMRI-listed for organic use.
  • lambda-cyhalothrin (Warrior II) at 0.03 lb ai/a (suppression only). PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 5 days. Do not exceed 0.18 lb ai/a per season.
  • malathion (Fyfanon 8) at 1.0 to 1.75 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 24 hr. Retreatment interval 7 days. Do not exceed 2 treatments.
  • propyleneglycol monolaurate (Acaritouch) at 12 to 25 oz/100 gal of formulated product. PHI 1 day. REI 4 hr.
  • pyridaben (Sanmite) at 0.188 to 0.28 lb ai/a. PHI 1 day. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.56 lb ai/a per season. Limit 2 treatments. Retreatment interval 30 days. Greenhouse Only.
  • spiromesifen (Oberon 2SC) at 0.11 to 0.13 lb ai/a. PHI 7 days. REI 12 hr. Do not exceed 0.4 lb ai/a per season. Retreatment interval 7 days. Limit 3 treatments.

Note: Pesticides may injure cucurbits. The possibility of injury is less when foliage is dry at time of application.