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Post by Tig on Dec 26, 2008 13:28:24 GMT
I have got these on my gardenia and despite misting with warm water and daily inspection and squashing they are almost impossible to kill off  People often confuse the red velvet spider seen on walls and windows in warmer weather for them - so I thought I would try and get a photo to give some idea of what the real 'enemy' looks like. See the black arrow - that tiny brown speck is the foe ...  Zoomed in ...  Now you know why you need excellent eyesight or a magnifying glass to spot them! They can move quite quickly in the warmth though! And if they fall on a white surface and you squash them they leave a tiny brown stain! ;D Even closer for those with failing eyesight (like me!)  x Tig |
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Post by andy on Dec 26, 2008 13:57:20 GMT
Funnily enough, i find them one of the easiest pests to control using humidity and spraying with tepid water. It must be done almost on a daily basis and if all else fails, there is a systemic insecticide that works well too which is available from most GC's.
I am allergic to them too.....if i get them on my hands and then touch my eyes, they come up like big puff balls !!!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2008 15:01:25 GMT
Any chance of a close up Tig ;D thats camera you have
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Post by Tig on Dec 26, 2008 16:04:22 GMT
Here you are Steve - it won't go any bigger (little b@ggar  )  I must try and find that stuff at the GC Andy, I have never seen anything for them - will have a google  x Tig |
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Post by Jasmine on Dec 26, 2008 17:31:39 GMT
So where did they get the red bit of their name?
I'm going to go and check my gardenia!
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Post by Amo on Dec 29, 2008 10:12:41 GMT
RHS says the females become orange red in the autumn winter when they are hibernating.
Spray for them is bifenthrin or can be sprayed with vegetalbe oils or fatty acids. The organic version I assume. Several applications will be needed to break the life cycle.
Oh, and if you can get that close to a 1mm mite, they have two brown stripes near the head and eight legs. ;D
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Post by Jasmine on Dec 29, 2008 14:50:52 GMT
That explains their name then Amo.
Couldn't see anything on any of my houseplants but you need pretty good eye sight to see something that tiny.
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Post by Tig on Dec 29, 2008 15:15:56 GMT
Thanks for the info Amo - I wondered why they were called 'red'  They must have been on the gardenia when I bought it I reckon, 'cos none of my other indoor plants have had them! It is getting a warm bath each morning now - see if I can drown the blighters before they move on to pastures new  |
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