2 more mites lessons !!! - Orchid Board

Merlyn · #1 10-16-2011, 02:08 PM

Today I just passed the mites 301 & 401 classes !!! Thought I knew most everything about them as I've been battling them since '05 !!! Two more signs, since you can't see them with a naked eye, especially for Ctsms. Since a lot of my 50 Ctsms are now starting to go dormant I wasn't concerned when I saw some leaves start to turn yellow !!! WRONG !!! Add that to my mites signals library !!! During the same period I've noticed a LOT of sugar drops on some plants. Didn't think much about it as it was getting into the 90's for a week or so in my room. WRONG AGAIN !!! That lesson is that some chids in the SAME alliance react differently to mites !!! The minute I looked under my 5x glass it DAWNED on me that each sugar drop is chid BLOOD from a mite bite !!! Ok, crude terminology but it gets the idea across !!!

That makes 4 signals that I know of through experience. All the books will tell you about the fine webs under the leaves but if you're waiting until you see that, you just killed your plant !!! I NEVER see that even under my 5x !!! The MAIN first sign is any different sheen on the TOP of the leaves or a miniscule whitening on the TOP. I'm still learning, OBVIOUSLY, to check with a 5x the minute I see ANYTHING different !!!

That's it class !!! Thanks to our substitute teachers THE MITES !!! Hopefully I helped any of you others with the same nemesis as me !! BTW, I used Insecticidal Soap and drenched EVERYONE in the pix, sterilized EVERY dish under the hottest sink water and sprayed the entire area's posts and shelves and walls with Isoap also.
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Bud · #2 10-16-2011, 03:16 PM

I am glad you got rid of those bugs...nice set-up...I am glad I have a large bay window...or maybe I should have a light supplement for darker days this winter

Junebug · #3 10-16-2011, 03:24 PM

It's good that you've kept a watchful eye. Inspecting our chids is very important. Hope you gottem all. If not, you might want to order some Talstar P. It's a concentrated synthetic pyrethrin and it works on all kinds of creepy crawlies. It has a faint scent, but odorless after application.

Ray · #4 10-16-2011, 04:36 PM

One further piece of "mite advice": if you have any signs of mites at all, DO NOT USE Merit!!!!

Not only is it not a miticide, but using it seems to result in a mite population explosion afterwards. Probably wipes out predators, but that's only a guess.

Merlyn · #5 10-16-2011, 04:39 PM

Thanks, Ray. BTW, everything I read about pyrethrins says they are "insecticides" and mites ARE NOT insects ! Do you have any knowledge of pyrethrins and mites ?

camille1585 · #6 10-16-2011, 04:54 PM

I don't know about pyrethrins, but I think the best bet is to use a miticide. Could be wrong.

I didn't know that the little buggers could be so hard to eradicate! I had a mite problem 3-4 years ago, and wiping down all the leaves with straight 90% rubbing alcohol and then spraying with a miticide stopped the problem immediately. Maybe I got lucky....

Junebug · #7 10-16-2011, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merlyn

Thanks, Ray. BTW, everything I read about pyrethrins says they are "insecticides" and mites ARE NOT insects ! Do you have any knowledge of pyrethrins and mites ?

The active ingredient is 7.9% bifenthrin. According to the label it kills spider mites. One of my friends is a golf course grounds keeper and he's the one that told me about it. I have no personal knowledge that it works on mites, but I know it's effective against ticks and weevils and thrips.

glengary54 · #8 10-16-2011, 10:09 PM

With mites, I find that it is easier to prevent them than it is to get rid of them. Remember they like it hot and dry. Try to increase air movement while increasing humidity and don't think just because your plants are deciduous you don't have to worry once the leaves fall off before dormancy as in Catasetinae. Mites can winter over with no problems and the dance begins anew when the conditions are right. Invest in a good quality miticide and be done with them.

This is a link to a product that I have used with incredible success:

Control Spider Mites with Liquid Ladybug Spider Mite Killer!

ezil · #9 10-17-2011, 11:45 PM

Thanks for the lesson. I have never seen the fine webs on the undersides of the leaves either, but I've learned the hard way that when it gets hot and/or dry, look out! They are very hard to get rid off, especially inside the house.

Merlyn · #10 10-18-2011, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ezil

Thanks for the lesson. I have never seen the fine webs on the undersides of the leaves either, but I've learned the hard way that when it gets hot and/or dry, look out! They are very hard to get rid off, especially inside the house.

AMEN !!!