Methods for dealing with spider mites on eggplant
A typical problem for gardeners is parasitic insects, which transfer various diseases to plants and contribute to their death. One of these is the spider mite on eggplants.
Methods for dealing with spider mites on eggplant
Signs of a spider mite
First, light white and yellowish spots appear on the leaves in some places, which eventually discolor. These spots become more and more every day, affecting the entire leaf plate. It turns white, and a cobweb appears underneath.
It can be difficult to notice the insects themselves on the seedlings, since they are very small in size - on average, the tick reaches 0.5 mm.
It is possible to detect pests when they infect leaves of a mass: then part of the leaf plate will be densely covered with dark dots. If you do not fight with them, then within two weeks they will go to fruits, because of which the plant will completely die.
Reasons for the appearance
The reasons for the appearance of spider mites on eggplants:
- high air temperature;
- low humidity.
Most often, pests affect seedlings grown in greenhouses at a temperature of 30 ℃, and the humidity is below 50%. Such conditions also contribute to the growth of their population.
Also, these parasites may already exist at the places where the greenhouse is built. They tend to hibernate for the winter. They can hide in fallen leaves, weeds, or the upper layers of the earth. Therefore, it is recommended to clear the soil and dig up the soil before laying a greenhouse and before planting any crops in it.
If the greenhouse was built earlier, then before planting seedlings, check the condition of other crops grown. The greenhouse is a favorable environment for the survival of ticks, so the female lays eggs in it under the leaves of plants.
Eggplant mites harm
Spider mites on eggplants can cause tremendous damage to the culture:
- They feed on the sap of leaves and fruits, which is why the bush withers and its growth slows down.
- You can lose your entire crop in just a few weeks.
- Pests also reduce the plant's immunity, which makes eggplants vulnerable to various diseases.
The tick problem is exacerbated by the fact that it cannot be detected at an early stage. It is revealed when insects have already begun to affect the seedlings. Pests spread quickly, so if they are not neutralized on one bush, they will move to other eggplant bushes or even other crops.
Tick control methods
Proper care of the seedlings prevents the appearance of spider mites. Pests are not able to survive in high humidity conditions, so you need to water the crop regularly.
Ways to fight:
- to clear the land of weeds, leaves and last year's tops;
- periodically loosen the soil;
- ensure constant soil and air moisture in the greenhouse (more than 80%);
- remove and destroy affected leaves;
- remove cobwebs from bushes;
- periodically check all bushes for new individuals.
To prevent the spread of parasites from some bushes to others, the distance between the beds should be at least 50 cm.And in order to prevent them from moving from one greenhouse to the next, the distance between the greenhouses should be at least 1 m.
In addition to these control measures, there are other ways to destroy pests. The most common method is with chemicals. It is very efficient and simple. But you can also use folk methods by making various infusions, decoctions and solutions.
Fighting ticks is very difficult
Traditional methods
Tinctures and decoctions can act as control measures, if the pests have not yet had time to spread to all the bushes. In a greenhouse, seedlings can be treated with herbal infusions such as chamomile, dandelion, calendula, yarrow. You can use the tops of tomatoes, potatoes, garlic, or onion skins. But you can make solutions and decoctions from other means.
Soap solution
There are two ways to prepare a soap solution: add laundry soap to herbal infusion or mix melted soap with alcohol. A solution of soap and herbal decoction sticks better to foliage. And the alcohol solution helps to destroy not only insects, but also their eggs.
To prepare any soap solution, you need to melt 200 g of laundry soap in warm water with a volume of 10 liters and leave for three hours. Then you can add 30 ml of alcohol or a decoction to it. Spray eggplant bushes with a solution once a week. A few hours after treatment, it is better to water the plants with a hose to wash off the solution.
Tobacco decoction
To prepare this broth, you need tobacco leaves and stems. One bucket of water needs 500 g of tobacco vegetation. You can stick to smaller proportions. All components are boiled and cooled. For the treatment of bushes, it is better to dilute the tobacco broth with plain water.
Garlic infusion
It is necessary to finely chop 2-3 heads of garlic and fill them with water in a volume of 1 liter. The container is placed in a warm place, where the garlic will infuse for five days. Before spraying the bushes, the garlic infusion should be diluted with 1 liter of clean water.
Use of drugs
When using drugs against spider mites, you need to follow the rule - process eggplants with different means. This is necessary because these pests tend to develop immunity to chemicals. When choosing a drug, you need to pay attention to its composition, since in order to destroy ticks, it must contain a leading active substance.
You can fight spider mites at all stages of their life with the help of insectoacaricides. But not all preparations can be used in a greenhouse, since many of them contain a large amount of toxins, which in an enclosed space can harm not only insects, but also eggplants.
Fitoverm is a suitable biological product for greenhouses. It is necessary to spray the bushes with them 3 times a week, diluting 2 ml of the substance in 1 liter of water.
Other greenhouse products
Also, in greenhouse conditions, sulfur can be used in dry and liquid form. A preparation based on colloidal sulfur is used in cases of mass spread of parasites. You need to spray the bushes with a solution of 70 g of the substance and 10 liters of water.
Dry sulfur is used to disinfect the greenhouse. It is produced in the form of briquettes. Sulfur is burned to kill pests. During its use, all safety precautions must be observed.
Prophylaxis
There are several ways to prevent spider mites from growing on eggplants in your greenhouse. The most important rule is to observe the required temperature and humidity level in the room. For this, the greenhouses should be periodically ventilated. It is also imperative to monitor the condition of the soil. Watering should be regular so that the soil does not dry out.
Air humidity can be increased by spraying the bushes with warm water.But after that you need to make sure that moisture does not stagnate on the plant. As this can lead to leaf rot. Another important preventive measure is soil disinfection. After harvesting and before planting again, it is recommended to treat the soil with bleach.
Conclusion
If a spider mite appears on the eggplants, it must be destroyed, since it is capable of destroying the entire crop in a short time. There are several ways to control these pests in a greenhouse. But in order to prevent their appearance, it is necessary to take preventive measures.