AusBonsai

Hey guys,

Geez I’m having problems with pests this year I’ve attached some photos. Just wondering if these are spider mites and what is the best treatment? I noticed them running around the pots of some shimpaku cuttings I took.

I investigated my other shimps and they have the odd small dead branch. Wondering if that’s them doing it? I found a some tiny webbing on some juvenile foliage close to a trunk. Everything else seems fine.

Sorry for the quality of the photos, it was hard to focus and they move quick

Hard to tell, but they look like aphids to me.
If you have webbing on some foliage, you likely have spider mites also though.

Count legs.
Aphids are insects so 3 pairs of legs =6 total.
Spider mites are mites so 4 pairs of legs =8 total.
You'll have to count as the photos don't quite show enough detail.
Mites also spin very fine webs so you'll usually see fine, misty spider webs on the foliage.

Hmmm I’ll have another look around tomorrow. Hopefully one will stay still for a bit so I can snap a shot. I haven’t seen any fine spider webs. I’ll take a closer inspection. What’s the best way to deal with either?

Thanks for the help!

Any insecticide will kill aphids as they have soft bodies and are easy to hit with sprays low toxicity pyrethrum will do it and so will most other pesticides available.
Mites have proved a bit more difficult. Need something that definitely kills mites. I usually use a high toxicity miticide that you probably can't get. Eco-oil says it kills mites. I've heard others use Neem oil. Mavrik also claims to kill mites. Check the labels of products you have or can buy.

To slow down active insects for good photos, capture some and put them in the fridge or freezer (in a small container) until they cool down. That should slow them down either permanently or temporary.

Thanks mate, I appreciate that. Great idea, I’ll try catch some today. A little worried about using a high toxicity poison. I have a small dog and cat and also have quite a few bees that visit the garden. I could quarantine the plants but, they won’t get much sunshine while there. Would that matter? I guess a spray and quarantine for 2 weeks, probably only a couple of hours of direct light a day.

I worry about using oils too. That eco oil really choked out my procumbens when not had scale. It nearly didn’t make it.

Thanks again

I have used Eco-oil on junipers without any issues. I’m not sure how effective it is, particularly for mites, but it seemed okay for scale last year. It didn’t touch my JM’s aphids this year.

I blamed oil for problems in the past, but in retrospect I think it was really the pests / me overwatering that did the damage.

They look to big . Spider mites are tiny .

Hmm interesting. Maybe they aren’t… I haven’t seen any the few times I’ve checked today, typical. I’ll try in the afternoon.

Good to know about the oil! I do have some so I’ll keep it in mind.

Cheers all, I appreciate it

Mickeyjaytee wrote: ↑October 18th, 2023, 1:53 pm Hmm interesting. Maybe they aren’t… I haven’t seen any the few times I’ve checked today, typical. I’ll try in the afternoon.

Good to know about the oil! I do have some so I’ll keep it in mind.

Cheers all, I appreciate it

They obviously read this forum mate!

Try looking up velvet mites.
They are big enough to see easily and are also predators so would be good to have on your side.

BirchMan wrote: ↑October 18th, 2023, 2:22 pm

Mickeyjaytee wrote: ↑October 18th, 2023, 1:53 pm Hmm interesting. Maybe they aren’t… I haven’t seen any the few times I’ve checked today, typical. I’ll try in the afternoon.

Good to know about the oil! I do have some so I’ll keep it in mind.

Cheers all, I appreciate it

They obviously read this forum mate!

Hahaha the cheeky little buggers… I’m one step behind as is

Definitely could be velvet mites especially if they are quite visible to the naked eye. I could definitely see them.

Cheers lads!