Spider mites

Overview

Spider mites thrive in hot, dry conditions and can crash crops quickly if missed early.

Symptoms

• Leaf stippling / bronzing
• Webbing (later)
• Hot spots on stressed plants

Conditions that increase risk

• Hot Dry Weather
• Plant water stress

Biological control options

• Phytoseiulus persimilis
• Amblyseius swirskii (early suppression)

IPM notes

• Focus on early detection + rapid response

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Further guidance

• Spider mites — Biocontrol Foundations

Key natural enemies

• Phytoseiulus persimilis
• Amblyseius swirskii
• Amblyseius cucumeris

Environmental drivers

• Strongly favoured by hot, dry conditions and plant water stress.
• Populations can explode in summer/high radiation periods; damage escalates quickly once webbing begins.
• Dusty conditions and disrupted predator activity can worsen outbreaks.