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RE: Spider Mites

I agree with the others, you have an aphid problem, not a spider mite
problem.  I will send you my file on mites and on aphids for your article.
The second question, after asking which bug is in play, is why was the bug
there?  95% of the time, the plant was in stress BEFORE the insect arrived.
So the Ivy plant is very likely in stress for some reason.  Take away the
stress and the bug problem will usually disappear.  Neem is particularly
helpful in this situation.  It is food safe and kills aphids or spider mites
on contact.  It also works as a repellent for up to 30 days.  Very safe and
very effective.  If the black aphids persist, and no chemicals are wanted,
then yellow sticky traps can work on a houseplant.  Again, the stress is the
primary issue to be addressed.

Jeff

-----Original Message-----
From: Suzanne Pierot [s*@hvi.net]
Sent: Saturday, March 02, 2002 3:58 AM
To: Gardenwriters@topica.com
Cc: Sabina Sulgrave; Russell Windle; Pat Hammer
Subject: [GWL]: Spider Mites

I am doing an article about spider mites (on ivy) and urgently need some
help.  A reader has little black thingamajigs no bigger than a grain of
cracked pepper that cluster on the tips of the  stems of the new growth.
Could these be the eggs of spider mites? Although she washes her plant every
other day in cold water, these little black things come back. There is no
webbing underneath the leaves as you would expect to see from mites and
there is no typical mite damage to the plant (probably from all the
washing).  In fact her plant is thriving.

Although she has not observed any mites on the plant, she sometimes  finds
live gray spider mites in the plant saucer.  Could  the black thingamajigs
be the eggs of the spider mites?  Do spider mites lay eggs?   Are they
black?  If they do lay eggs how long does it take to go from egg to mite?
What is the life cycle of a mite?
If anyone can answer these questions or has any tips on how to cope with
mites I'd be mighty grateful.
Suzanne Pierot,
American Ivy Society

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