Spider Mites on Your Citrus Trees

Spider mites are common on citrus plants. As a matter of fact, they are one of the main concerns of citrus growers all over the country. The nasty little bugs are harmful to the plant and will keep a full-grown citrus tree in no time at all. The spider mite lays its eggs on the leaves and the eggs feed off of the leaves as they grow and mature. Once they hatch, more eggs are laid and the process begins again. The bugs suck the energy and life from the leaves and from the tree, resulting in a sick and eventually dying tree. This is why it is so important to keep the bugs at bay when you are trying to grow citrus.

Identifying a problem on your citrus plants is often a bit challenging. The bugs lay transparent, red egg on the leaves and the full-grown bug is brownish-red in color. It features long bristles and is large enough to see. There are four different types of this bug in the country. The most common is the Texas citrus, the citrus red, the two-spotted, and the Yuma. The Texas citrus lays eggs that are originally yellow and eventually brown. They full-grown bug features dark blotchy spots. The Yuma are usually a shiny, peach-orange color. The two-spotted has clear eggs that are milky in color right before they hatch and the adults are yellow, green, or red.

The damage these bugs inflect on citrus trees can be devastating. They feed on the leaves, leading to less fruit growth. The fruit that does grow is also damaged. The Yuma and two-spotted sometimes create webs throughout the trees, especially on the leaves. As the problem worsens, patches of death will be seen on the leaves from where the feeding occurred. The more eggs there are, the worse the problem becomes. Discolored fruit is also common when the infestations are serious.

When attempting to treat the infestation, citrus growers need to use caution. Unfortunately, because you are applying treatment to fruit, it means any chemicals used will eventually be eaten by the end user of the fruit. Though there are safe pesticides available, it should not be your first line of defense. Ladybugs are helpful when it comes to managing an infestation, as is washing the leaves of the plant. However, if you are dealing with a large citrus grove, washing each and every leaf is not likely a rational solution.

The most important thing to remember when dealing with an infestation of any kind; is to identify the problem as soon as possible. The less time the bugs have to wreak havoc on the plant, the healthier the plant is going to be. Saving the fruit should be your number on priority when it comes to dealing with an infestation on citrus trees. Protecting those who eat the fruit is equally as important and should not be taken lightly. The earlier the problem is found, the better off everyone is going to be.Ellie Lewis is interested in finding a spider mite treatment that is available for commercial locations. She has an infestation of spider mites in her downtown hotel.

For more information about spider mites go to
http://www.spidermites411.com/ .

Author Bio: Ellie Lewis is interested in finding a spider mite treatment that is available for commercial locations. She has an infestation of spider mites in her downtown hotel.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: spider mite,spider mites