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The two-spotted spider mite
Symptoms of Infestation
Damage symptoms appear on the upper surface of the leaf as white or yellow spots. With continued feeding, these spots turn brown.
The two-spotted spider mite produces webbing as it moves across the plant, resulting in leaves being covered with a dense silk network that collects dust and debris. The mite also moves among the hairs on the lower leaf surface, appearing as scattered sand-like particles.
It infests leaves, flowers, and fruits, leading to reduced yield in crops such as beans, eggplants, and cucurbits.
In severe infestations, leaves wilt, dry out, and fall off, and the plant may die.
Sources of Spread and Transmission
Transporting infected seedlings and plant parts.
Mechanical transmission via agricultural tools and equipment.
Prevention and Control Mechanism
Using seedlings that are free from all pests and free of any life stage of the pest, sourced from certified nurseries.
Transporting seedlings from nursery to field or greenhouse using safe methods that prevent infestation.
Ensuring the disinfection of tools used in all agricultural operations.
Applying balanced fertilization and avoiding excessive nitrogen fertilization to prevent excessive vegetative growth, as it serves as a favorable stimulus for pest reproduction.
Eliminating parasitic weeds around greenhouses manually or with herbicides, as they serve as a habitat and a real source of infection for protected plants.
Regular field inspection and monitoring the initial appearance of infestation to ensure more effective control (early detection of infestation hotspots).
Releasing natural enemies, including predators, parasitoids, and entomopathogens.
Spraying specialized biopesticides.