How to fight spider mites on currants with folk remedies and medications

Spider mites are a pest that lives on foliage and negatively affects the development of bushes. Having discovered a spider mite on currants, it is important to know how to deal with the insect in order to prevent negative consequences and a reduction in yield.

Which currant varieties are susceptible to mite damage?

Currant bushes are attacked by pests as a result of unfavorable environmental conditions or improper care. Most often, spider mites appear on currant varieties such as Lama, Nika, Black Pearl, Rhapsody, and Gulliver.

Causes and symptoms of infection

Gardeners identify several common reasons why mites begin to harm plants. These include:

1. Hot and dry weather. In such conditions, active reproduction of pests occurs, so they begin to actively settle on plants.
2. Lack of nutrients in the soil. Most often, mites weave a web on currants, which is weakened due to a lack of organic compounds.
3. Infection with diseases from neighboring plants. If the affected plantings are not localized, they continue to spread infections, which attracts pests.
4. Dusty foliage. The accumulation of dust on plants creates a favorable environment for insects, so it is necessary to regularly irrigate for preventive purposes.

Symptoms of pest infestation depend on the type of pest. Currants are attacked by bud and spider mites.

Kidney mite

You can notice the effect of a kidney mite by the appearance of the kidneys, which increase in size and differ in shape from healthy ones. Also, the bud mite on black currants leads to a change in the color and shape of the leaves on the tops of fresh shoots. The leaf blades become rough to the touch, lose color and become deformed.

Affected shoots slow down their development over time.Viral infection actively spreads throughout the plant and, in the absence of control of bud pests, green spaces die.

Cobwebby

Recognizing damage to black or red currants by spider mites is also not particularly difficult. The most obvious sign is the formation of a thin web on the leaves and between the branches. The affected leaf plates, from which the pests suck out the juices, lose their structure, become covered with white spots and subsequently begin to rot.

Consequences of defeat

If you do not apply protective measures and do not get rid of the harmful insect before the ovaries form, there is a risk of critical crop loss. As a result of their impact on bushes, mites reduce fruiting, destroy ovaries on flowers, and damage foliage.

Failure to treat plants increases the likelihood of developing infections. Even disease-resistant currant varieties are susceptible to viruses after exposure to spider mites or bud mites. The presence of a pest most often provokes the development of powdery mildew.

How to deal with ticks

There are a large number of ways to get rid of spider mites on currants. Since pests are capable of attacking bushes throughout the year, it is recommended to resort to integrated control and use various drugs to eliminate mites.

We use folk remedies

The most popular folk method is to prepare a solution of finely chopped garlic and onions. Shredded vegetables are diluted with water and kept for 24 hours. You can also treat currant bushes with an infusion of potato tops.

It is recommended to use solutions by spraying over the entire surface of the plants.The bushes should be sprayed 3-4 times a day, since mites leave eggs on the foliage that are highly resistant to the influence of liquid.

Plants for pest control

Some plants have a beneficial effect on the growth of currants and are used as a means to combat spider mites. Such plants include: dandelion, yarrow, celandine, datura, calendula and wormwood. The collected herbs can be used in dried form, placed in small bags and placed near plantings to repel insects.

Biological enemies

In nature, there are natural enemies of spider mites and kidney mites that destroy the pest. The main biological enemy is phytoseiulus, which are also known as predatory mites. The use of predatory mites is allowed only when growing currant bushes in greenhouse conditions.

Simultaneously treating bushes with berries with insecticidal preparations and using them to combat enemies of spider mites is unacceptable, since insecticides have a detrimental effect on both types of mites. If spraying with a soap solution or a preparation containing mineral oil was used as a method of combating harmful insects, predatory mites can only be introduced into the greenhouse after a week.

Use of special drugs

When standard pest control methods do not bring the desired result, there is a need to use special means. These include acaricides and biological products that effectively destroy pests on currant bushes.

Chemical acaricides

The acaricide solution is used until the buds open. Well-known chemical acaricides are the drugs “Akarin”, “Agravertin”, “Bitoxibacillin”.After treatment, the death of pests occurs within a day, and for the next 20-25 days a protective layer remains on the foliage, repelling insects.

Treatment is carried out in dry and windless weather. The leaves are moistened on both sides 2-3 times with an interval of about 5 days. Since pests are capable of developing resistance to chemicals in a short period of time, it is therefore recommended to alternate medications.

Biological products

Biological products, which are an alternative to chemicals, are also suitable for destroying the habitat of ticks. The substances are based on living microorganisms, including antagonist bacteria and fungi. Common biological products are: “Bisolbifit”, “Lepidotsid” and “Fitoverm”.

How to get rid of parasites: rules and timing for treating bushes

When dealing with pests, you need to follow several rules and adhere to the recommended deadlines. Proper processing is the key to maintaining currant yields.

We fight the pest before currant blossoms

Before the bushes begin to actively flower, it is better to use infusions made from natural ingredients for treatment. Primary spraying is carried out with the onset of spring to destroy overwintered adult ticks and hatched larvae.

We destroy arachnids during fruiting

During the fruiting period, it is not allowed to use chemicals, since caustic components can negatively affect the taste characteristics of the berries. It is better to use organic substances or herbal mixtures that repel parasites from the bushes.

In the fall, when the entire harvest has been harvested, it is advisable to use powerful drugs that can destroy pests for a long time.In addition, autumn treatment helps prevent larvae from overwintering on plants.

Preventing ticks in the garden

Implementation of a set of preventive measures can reduce the likelihood of currants being damaged by spider mites. For prevention purposes, it is recommended:

1. Provide favorable environmental conditions. Parasites often appear in dry or overly humidified air, so the humidity level should be monitored.
2. Spray regularly. Even in the absence of visible signs of pests, protective treatments of plants should be carried out periodically.
3. Adhere to complete care. Currant bushes must be watered, shaped for aeration, and old branches and dried foliage must be trimmed.

The use of preventive methods not only prevents pest damage, but also has a beneficial effect on the growth and development of bushes. Plants grown in the right conditions bring a stable harvest with high taste.