Imidacloprid - Suitable to eradicate Spider Mites?

[rbarata]

I'm not sure if I have them in my den.

I can see fine webs, leaves with a strange pattern that I thought it was dust but won't come off with a wet cloth.
But I don't see any bugs, which I think are red. Cleaning a leave, upper and lower sides and there's nothing visible.
I'll post a photo later.
I was thinking about spraying it tomorrow with Imidacloprid but I've read is not effective for this pest.

Thank you

[Ray]

There are all sorts of mites, and your symptoms sound right for them, so don't necessarily count on seeing red as a diagnostic.

Imidicloprid is not a miticide. In fact there have been studies that show that mite infestation may actually become worse after use of it.

[rbarata]

Ray, can you give the name of the chemical molecule commonly used?
It's easier than looking for a specific product.

[Ray]

Commercial miticides are quite varied, and unfortunately, quite expensive.

I have found that products containing purified azadirachtin (the active ingredient in neem oil, but I prefer to avoid oils) are quite effective.

[rbarata]

Thanks, I'll try to find it.
There's also a recipe I've found:

4 l water + 2 spoon (soup) dishwashing detergent + 1 spoon (soup) vegetable oil. Prior to use, add a tea spoon of alcohol and mix it well.
Maybe I'll try it before going chemical.

[estación seca]

The mites can't climb very well. If you spray them off the plant with a jet of water they will die. Repeat treatment is necessary because some eggs remain. Isopropyl alcphol 70% or dish soap 15ml/liter also works as a spray,

[My Green Pets]

Originally Posted by rbarata

Thanks, I'll try to find it.
There's also a recipe I've found:

4 l water + 2 spoon (soup) dishwashing detergent + 1 spoon (soup) vegetable oil. Prior to use, add a tea spoon of alcohol and mix it well.
Maybe I'll try it before going chemical.

I've used something similar to this and it worked well. I washed the entire plant, wiping upper and lower leaf surfaces thoroughly.

[rbarata]

Here are some photos...
Two questions...

Those new leaves, are from last year,s canes and never had the opportunity to open. I'm sure there are colonies inside. How would you proceed? Open the leaves? Put water inside to drown them? Wait for them to get out and spray?

And one knows they're gone? Probably the damage in the leaves won't recover...

One more thing...since I had the mealy bug infestation in this plant, it remained isolated in my room so I believe all the other plants are not at risk.

[sweetjblue]

That looks like a pretty bad infestation. Giving the plant a shower would get rid of alot and help any product/remedy you use be more effective, the webbing will keep any remedy from reaching the majority of pests.

I'm not sure if you'd be able to get this in Portugal, but what I've used is a product called Tetrasan 5 WDG. It's a miticide / ovicide. Label and SDS sheets here for it's info.
https://www.valent.com/professional/...label-msds.cfm

Friends had recommended either 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water and since it was a few years ago I forget which I used. If you use as a dunk, do not water beforehand. If spraying, water the plant first so it doesn't wash off.

I only had to use it one time to get rid of the mites I had and they never returned.

It's kind of expensive and generally it comes in a package with an amount that the average/ hobbyist grower would never use but I was able to get a much smaller amount cheaply off of ebay.

Good Luck!



.

[rbarata]

Well, I've found that, here and in the EU, most of the pesticides and similarly toxic products can't be bought by everybody who wants it. One need to have a 2 year training and be in possession of an authorized user card, issued after the training.
So, when you go buy stuff like this, stores asks you for the car... if no card, no selling.

I guess I'll try the dishwashing recipe.