Fine webs on orchids - spiders or something more sinister?

[toshie]

Is there anything other than spiders that leave fine webs on orchids?

Should I spray or just wipe off? My orchids all look pretty healthy otherwise.

Cheers,
Deb

[cb977]

if you wipe it, does a red/rust residue come off?
If so, it could be spider mites

[lily99]

I agree, they could be spider mites. Spider mites prefer low humidity. I get them every winter, and I get rid of them by spraying with neem oil every week.

[Becca]

Is it possible to have spider mites with high humidity, like 70% to 90%?

[camille1585]

Originally Posted by Becca

Is it possible to have spider mites with high humidity, like 70% to 90%?

Yes, it's entirely possible. Spider mites sometimes do appear in commercial greenhouses, which are hot and humid. However their development is much slower, and the population does not increase nearly as rapidly as in drier conditions. They also don't reproduce as well in high humidity.
So yes, you can have spider mites in high humidity, but it's less likely and also less of a problem than in low humidity. (In spider mite terms, low humidity is anything below 50-60%)

[Becca]

Thanks Camille!