Predatory mites
 

I don't know if you have heard of them,but I was battling spidermites without success. Untill, I discovered this place called Sterling Insectory! They sell mites specifically for eating spidermites, and boy do they get the job done!! One purchase has worked for over two years. Mite Free!!!!!! I just thought I would share that ,so maybe someone that might be fighting that battle could have a good weapon to battle with. Just google the name and it will give you their website. :woohoonaner:

Re: Predatory mites
 

Hey, Jamie Sounds like some good stuff, kinda late in the season for it here though. :^) Maybe next year when I have 5 more almonds in the ground :^)

Re: Predatory mites
 

Ya they are awesome! They ship them in a cooler on bean leaves and all you have to do is lay the leaves on your plants. The predators wake up and then begin feeding on the spidermites. They eat their eggs first then start eating the spidermites. It has been great without those little devils eating on my nanners

Re: Predatory mites
 

Cool! Definitely thanks for that information! :D Spider mites ate the leaves off of my elephant ear and I have a friend who's been battling them all year on his.

Re: Predatory mites
 

Wow, I totally need some of those for this winter! Do you know if they ship them later in the season. I'm guessing during winter it's far too cold to ship such things.

Re: Predatory mites
 

I definitely second that question! :)

Re: Predatory mites
 

I wonder what happens to them after they have eaten all the evil spider mites

Re: Predatory mites
 

Q: What happens to the predatory mites once they eat all of the spider mites?

A: The predatory mites are obligatory predators of mites so, when all the spider mites are gone, the predatory mites move on to find more food or they die off.

Re: Predatory mites
 

Hello all,

to answer the winter question. I'm not sure. I usually get them now and they wipe out the spidermites because in the winter they kinda go into some type of dormancy. Trust me though the deffinatly are effective!!!! I havnt had a problem for 3 years now!! Just look up Sterling Insectory. Talk to Kim she will be more then happy to answer any of your questions.

Re: Predatory mites
 

Do you mean the spider mites go into dormancy in winter? Cause that has not been my experience.....but I'm also talking about indoor cultivation during winter. Last winter they were very difficult to keep under control and it was a constant battle all winter!

Re: Predatory mites
 

I wonder if they could kill aphids?

Ladybugs for Aphids

YouTube - ladybugs can eat spidermite

Re: Predatory mites
 

The predators go into diapause when the daylight hours go below 11. ( not really sure what that means) but I noticed in my greenhouse they stayed active even in winter. I'm not sure about the aphids. The might eat their eggs not too sure. I think lady bugs would be best for the aphids. :02:

Re: Predatory mites
 

I checked it out and not all mites do diapause. Here's the definition I found for diapause:
diapause - definition of diapause by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
The definition seems to mean that their growth just slows down... prolly like hibernation. I am definitely going to try the predatory mites if I even think I might have spider mites.