There are hundreds of species of spider mites in South Carolina, but not all cause damage to desirable plants in landscapes and gardens. Weidhass, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Twospotted spider mites are almost microscopic and require a 20X Spider Mite ( Tetranychus urticae). Severely infested plants are covered by a thin layer of webbing created by the large numbers of spider mites. Heavily infested plants take on a faded, yellowish or greyish cast. The most noticeable damage of symptom of infestation is white stippling on the leaves. They remove contents from individual plant cells, leaving behind the cell wall, which makes the emptied cells appear silvery. Spider mites feed on the leaves through their piercing-sucking mouthparts. These management strategies involve mechanical, physical, cultural, biological, and chemical controls. In short, IPM is the use of multiple control strategies in a comprehensive and preventative approach to reduce pest populations, maintaining plant health, and minimizing the use and impact of pesticides in the environment. Spider mites are most effectively managed when Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) is practiced. The name “spider mite” comes from the silk webbing they spin similar to spiders. They feed on many different herbaceous ornamental and woody plants, vegetable plants, fruit bearing plants, and even broadleaf and conifer trees. They are often brought in from external sources on purchased plant material, however they can be blown in with the help of wind currents. Spider mites can be a serious problem in the landscape.
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