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Re: Spider Mites or Aphids?

The spider mites I have been bothered by have been about the size of a
pinhead, and when examined with a stereo microscope were almost transparent,
but with a reddish tint.  They don't have wings.  The local ag ext. office
and a local nurseyman both have recommended washing off with water as the
creatures prefer dry conditions(have to contact undersides of leaves which
isn't easy in sq. ft. plantings)... Also kelthane as a chemical
treatment...several sprayings, 5 days apart. I seem to fight them each year.
I am also battling the dreaded squash bugs again.  They killed off
zuke,yellow squash, and cukes last year and are having a feast on my
daughter's pumpkins this time around!  I have a semi sq. ft. method on the
pumpkins - I set up a 3' concrete ring well away from the two 4 X 8 beds,
and they have climbed the fence into the neighbor's yard. We have already
picked 8 good sized ones.

>I was worried about my peppers lower leaves turning yellow and falling
>off. Martin told me to check the undersides of the leaves for spider
>mites.  I have found little crawlers under these leaves, but thought
>they were aphids.  How do I tell the difference?  And how do you get rid
>of them.  I have just washed the aphids (or whatever they are) off with
>water (which is what I read was the best non-chemical way).  They come
>back every once in a while and I wash them off again.
>
>I am trying to dry out the plants (as Julie suggested to me).  I am
>cutting back to once or twice a week (2 cups each watering), instead of
>every other day.
>
>Thanks for the assistance in saving my peppers (the whole reason I even
>started this garden this year).
>
>Tristan
>Renton, WA
>
>t*@i405.com
>
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>
Martin Halterman
Duncan, Oklahoma
mhalterman@halnet.com

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