How to get rid of red spider

The red spider (class Arachnida) is a tiny sap-sucking pest. They attack the underside of leaves and suck the sap of the tree; When infected with red spider mites in large numbers, the plant can die. When you spot red spiders, it’s time to take action to get rid of them! You can use chemical or biological control methods to treat a red spider infection.

Table of Contents

Distinguish red spider

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Observe the leaf surface. If the plant is infested with red spider mites, the leaves may appear yellow spots. When the light hits the leaves, you’ll see a silvery sheen, even streaks of copper or silver on the leaves.

Although red spiders usually attack the undersides of leaves, they sometimes become so greedy that they eat both the tops of leaves and flowers. The red spider will eventually poke holes through the leaves – the clearest evidence of red mite infestation.
Plants can still be infected with red spider mites even if you can’t find holes in the leaves, so you should watch for other signs.
Other signs of damage include: distorted leaves, deformation, wilting, spots, stripes or discoloration on the leaf surface. If the infection is severe, the leaves may begin to fall.

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Check if there are white networks on the tree. This is an indication of the presence of red spiders. Spider webs often gather around their feeding places. Note that not all red spiders have webs.

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Confirm the presence of red spiders. The red spider is very small, so it is difficult to see. However, one method that you can use to determine the presence of red spider mites is to take a white sheet of paper, place it underneath the plant you suspect has red spider mites, and gently shake the petiole.

Some red spiders will fall on the paper. You can see them more clearly through a magnifying glass.
Red spiders come in a variety of colors such as red, green, yellow and brown. They have eight legs and are usually slow-moving.
Note red spiders with spots on their backs – these are also known as red two-spotted spiders, which are especially difficult to get rid of. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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You have to be very careful with some plants. Some plants appear to be preferred by red spiders over others.

Watch out for red spider mites when growing rosemary, fruit trees, bananas, begonias, beans, mint, broadleaf grass, strawberries, porcelain and other houseplants.
Note that the two-spotted red spider can attack more than 100 species of plants.

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Pay special attention in wet and dusty weather. Red spider mites can do the most damage in these conditions because they are then thirsty and seek out moisture in the leaves. This also means that they are attracted to any plants growing inside the windows, including plants on the windowsills of the house.

Using biological methods

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Quickly remove heavily infested plant parts. Pick up fallen leaves and pluck out badly damaged leaves. This will prevent the red spider from spreading to nearby trees. Place damaged leaves in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of in the trash or burn.

If the entire plant is infested with red spider mites, you should consider removing the entire plant. This will give the other plants a chance to survive.
Only water infested plants from above and continue to remove infected plant parts as soon as they are detected.

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Regularly clean house plants. If the plants are easy to clean, this is an effective and non-toxic method for getting rid of red spider mites.

You can use plain water or a solution of cool water and mild dishwashing liquid. Use 3 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid for every 4 liters of water. ^{[2] X Source of Research} You can use any soap, but natural soaps made with olive oil are best. Or you can also use antibacterial soap.
Use a sponge dipped in soapy water and wipe over each leaf or pour into a spray bottle to spray on the underside of the leaves.
If there are still red spiders on the plant, after 6 days, wash the leaves with soapy water again. Note that some plants are particularly sensitive to soap, so you should consider testing a small part of the plant before spraying on the entire plant.

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Use a plant-based spider repellent. There are a number of commercial medications that contain natural ingredients that work to get rid of red spider mites without being toxic to plants and other insects. The three most commonly used drugs are:

Pyrethrum is a natural insecticide made from plants of the daisy family. This drug is the best choice when you start dealing with red spiders. However, some species of red spiders develop resistance, so you should monitor them closely even after spraying.
Cinnamite is also a non-toxic insecticide, made from cinnamon essential oil. Although safe and effective against red spider mites, this drug does not kill eggs. Therefore, you will have to use it about every 3 days for 2 weeks to ensure that the newly hatched red spider eggs are also destroyed.
Neem oil is an insecticide made from the seeds of the neem tree. Neem oil is very effective in getting rid of red spider mites, in addition to preventing and treating powdery mildew. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Rosemary essential oil is just as effective as an organic insecticide. Try spraying a solution of rosemary essential oil and water on the leaves of plants infected with red spider mites. Rosemary essential oil will kill red spiders and will not harm other beneficial predatory spiders. ^{[1] X Research Source}

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Use an outdoor plant sprayer. Attach the spray head to the faucet and spray on outdoor plants infested with red spider mites. Turn on the water with high pressure and try to work towards the underside of the leaves to wash away the red spider.

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Use homemade herbal tea. If you want to make your own insecticide at home, you can make a herbal tea with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder, 1 tablespoon of clove powder, and 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning mixed with 1 quart of water.

Bring the water to a boil, then turn off the heat. When the water has cooled down, add about 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of fresh crushed garlic. Wait for the water to cool completely, then filter through a cloth or coffee filter.
Add a little dishwashing liquid to the tea, then pour it into a spray bottle. Spray on undersides of red spider-infected leaves every 3 days for 2 weeks. This method will kill red spider very effectively.

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Try organic salt. Fatty acids or potassium salts will rub into the red spider’s body. It is recommended to use organic salt in the evening to make the most of the time the plant is still wet when eradicating red spider mites.

Mix with water and spray on plants prone to red spider mites in the evening to create a cooler and more humid environment. This method is highly effective against red two-spotted spiders, as they prefer a warm and dry environment.

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Control weeds around plants. Do not create conditions for red spiders to have a lot of hiding places and serve as a launching pad for them to attack the plants you want to plant

In particular, all broad-leaved weeds should be removed.
Clean up anything left after harvesting, including stumps, fallen leaves, and any plant parts.

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Create living conditions for ladybugs and insects that hunt red spiders. Predatory insects such as lacewing larvae, predacious thrips and ladybugs can help reduce red spider populations if encouraged to stay in the garden. However, one of the main reasons red spiders increased in numbers in the first place was the use of pesticides that killed their natural enemies. So you should avoid using pesticides like carbaryl, malathion and imidacloprid. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You can buy these insects online, at a gardening center, or through advertisements in magazines. Herbs such as amaranth and borage that can attract ladybugs to the garden are also an alternative.
Ask your supplier for information on how to best use insect predators, noting that this may be less effective if used in a garden with a variety of plants.
Spiders can also be used against red spiders. Look for Phytoseiulus persimilis or other predatory spiders at the garden center (ask your retailer for the trade name, as they vary from country to country), be sure to follow the directions.
Under the right conditions, bait spiders can reduce red spider populations. The interesting thing is that the ladybug will not touch the bait spider, but only attack the red spider!

Use chemicals

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Use rubbing alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol can effectively kill red spiders. You just need to soak alcohol on a clean cloth and wipe the underside of the plant infected with red spider mites.

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Purchase products suitable for outdoor red spider extermination. There are sprays or wipes available at garden centers and home stores. You need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

If using certain chemicals (such as dienochlor, dicofp, azocyclotin, fenbutatin, bromopropylate, propagate), you should not spray the same product more than 3 times per season. This is to help reduce the chances of red spiders becoming resistant to the chemical.

Advice

Some red spiders are visible to the naked eye, others are almost microscopic and cannot be seen. However, when they are concentrated in large numbers, you can see them if you look closely. Use a magnifying glass if you want to see them up close!
There are many different species of red spiders. Because they belong to the same class of eight-legged Arachnids, red spiders can weave webs around their habitats, both for ease of movement and for self-defense. The spider family Tetranychidae is probably the most harmful to plants. This spider breaks down each cell of the plant, causing the liquid inside the cell to drain and air to enter. The two-spotted red spider seems to be the most common species found in gardens, greenhouses and houses.
Red spiders may or may not be red. Gardeners lump all types regardless of color, due to the similar damage they cause.

Warning

Biological control methods are better than chemical methods, as red spiders often become resistant to pesticides very quickly.
Note that pesticides also attack other predatory insects that have the ability to control red spider infestation and restore the balance in nature. You need to be careful when using it.
Getting rid of red spiders can be very difficult. You have to be patient, trying not to create the right conditions for red spiders to grow (warmth, hiding place and a little moisture for most species, complete dryness for some).
Some plant viruses are transmitted by red spider mites. This is also a good reason to destroy them.

Steps

Distinguish red spider

Using biological methods

Use chemicals

Advice

Warning

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