Imidacloprid - Suitable to eradicate Spider Mites?

[estación seca]

That is a bad infestation. Are you able to buy isopropyl alcohol at a druggist's? It works very well.

[wintergirl]

I used rubbing alcohol & half water with dish soap or mouth wash/water and dish soap. Both worked great. Make sure you get every part of the plant. Repeat in one week, and to be sure do it again one more week. Treat plants around infected plant or at least look under digital microscope to see if infected. They are under $20 with free shipping on Ebay, and are invaluable for looking for pests on your orchids.

Also when watering plants, rinse most leaves. That helps keep them away.

---------- Post added at 12:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:37 PM ----------

Clean all your shelves too.

[rbarata]

I can't find isopropil alcohol...in fact, although common is USA, that's not the case in EU. We can find easily ethanol which, from what I've in my investigation, can also be used.

Tha plant has been isolated during the last year.
And what about those new unopend leaves? How should I treat them? Should I open them?

[wintergirl]

I used mouth wash instead of rubbing alcohol, works just as well. I sprayed the entire plant, waited 15 min and resprayed. then after 15 min you can rinse everything with water. Don't force anything unopened leaves just drench the outside. Repeat in a week, then one more week for good measure.

[estación seca]

Ethanol will work just as well as isopropanol. Mouthwash as sold in the US contains ethanol. If you invert the end of the plant into a glass or bowl of alcohol, and swish it around well, the alcohol should enter the spaces between the leaves. You could also gently separate the bent leaves. This would also work with a soap solution.

Certain plants are magnets for spider mites. I spray these plants prophylactically every few weeks, and every time I find mites on any of my plants. Among orchids this includes Cymbidiums, Catasetums, Oncidiums, Grammatophyllum and kin; Epidendrums; Phalaenopsis.

Other spider magnets include Jasmine; Plumeria; anything in the nightshade family like tomatoes, petunias, Brugmansia, Cestrum, Datura; aroids like Caladium, Philodendron, Spathiphyllum; cacti from humid environments like Lobivia, Rebutia, Rhipsalis and Sulcorebutia.

The 2-spotted spider mite causes most trouble. I see it on Datura plants far out into the desert, so there is no hope of eradicating it completely. Control is necessary.

Here is more information. This reference says soaps manufactured as pesticides are more effective than household soaps.

twospotted spider mite - Tetranychus urticae Koch

[Irielicious]

Originally Posted by estación seca

Ethanol will work just as well as isopropanol. Mouthwash as sold in the US contains ethanol. If you invert the end of the plant into a glass or bowl of alcohol, and swish it around well, the alcohol should enter the spaces between the leaves. You could also gently separate the bent leaves. This would also work with a soap solution.

Certain plants are magnets for spider mites. I spray these plants prophylactically every few weeks, and every time I find mites on any of my plants. Among orchids this includes Cymbidiums, Catasetums, Oncidiums, Grammatophyllum and kin; Epidendrums; Phalaenopsis.

Other spider magnets include Jasmine; Plumeria; anything in the nightshade family like tomatoes, petunias, Brugmansia, Cestrum, Datura; aroids like Caladium, Philodendron, Spathiphyllum; cacti from humid environments like Lobivia, Rebutia, Rhipsalis and Sulcorebutia.

The 2-spotted spider mite causes most trouble. I see it on Datura plants far out into the desert, so there is no hope of eradicating it completely. Control is necessary.

Here is more information. This reference says soaps manufactured as pesticides are more effective than household soaps.

twospotted spider mite - Tetranychus urticae Koch

I had an orchid that died a few years back from a bug eating at it, I noticed it had very tiny black bugs that seemed to eat the leaves.

I was never able to confirm if they were spider mites or not I never noticed webs or anything...but I think my new orchid had some of the same tiny bugs so I immediately washed the dickens our of it and repotted. Are spider mites this small...

[rbarata]

Are spider mites this small...

I don't know but I think they're smaller...at least I can't see them.
But it all depends on the species, I think.

[estación seca]

I can't tell what those are, but spider mites are even smaller, and generally not black. I use alcohol a lot on my plants to kill bugs. I like it better than soap because it evaporates faster, and doesn't leave a residue.

[wintergirl]

I don't understand why people don't invest under $20 and get a digital microscope. You can see what mite or if there are mites. I take the plant run the scope over the leaves and look. The mites love to eat tender new growth. When I found I had a small infection of mites, I never saw anything with my eyes. I noticed a plant was just looked slightly paler in a few leaves. Then I looked at every plant I owned and I have 100. I started with the closest and worked out. Treating as I went. Some of the closest plants had mites and no signs of any problems. The scopes are good for looking at any spots or defects on a leaf too. I think there are phone apps that turn your smart phone into a scope. I don't know how good they are though.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by wintergirl

I don't understand why people don't invest under $20 and get a digital microscope. You can see what mite or if there are mites. I take the plant run the scope over the leaves and look. The mites love to eat tender new growth. When I found I had a small infection of mites, I never saw anything with my eyes. I noticed a plant was just looked slightly paler in a few leaves. Then I looked at every plant I owned and I have 100. I started with the closest and worked out. Treating as I went. Some of the closest plants had mites and no signs of any problems. The scopes are good for looking at any spots or defects on a leaf too. I think there are phone apps that turn your smart phone into a scope. I don't know how good they are though.

It might be a good project... everybody get a scope, and post photos of what they see.