Red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) on ivy in the garden, June 11, 2011
I was so pleased to catch a picture of this red spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) that I thought I would post it, as well as adding it to my spider identification project page.
It was running around very fast on a variegated ivy plant outside in the garden, over and under a leaf, and kept on evading me. I wouldn’t have noticed it if it hadn’t been moving, as it was less than half a millimetre long. It must have paused for just a moment on the stem when I shot this.
Spider mites are a pest on house plants and in the greenhouse, weaving their webs and sucking the life out of the plants. I don’t mind them in the garden, though (I say this even though this is the first time I have seen them outdoors…). More information about red spider mites on Wikipedia here.
Hi Pat,
Lack of rain is the problem, and if things don’t improve you’re likely to see a population explosion which could damage your garden plants and veggies, if you have any. Probably worth spraying – anything for aphids should get the job done. Spray late evening so the risk to pollinators is reduced.
I’m resisting the temptation to click through to your spider page!
Well, here in South Wales we have had no shortage of rain, unlike other parts of the UK!
And forgive me if I resist the temptation to spray. We don’t grow veg (too shady) and the birds eat all the aphids. So touch wood no real pest problems apart from lily beetles – which I admit to squashing in a most satisfying way under my foot…
Go on, have a look at my spiders – you know you want to!
Best wishes :)
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