Spider mites on currants: how to deal with drugs and folk remedies

Spider mite is a pest that lives on foliage and negatively affects the development of bushes. Having found a spider mite on a currant, it is important to know how to deal with an insect in order to prevent negative consequences and reduce the yield.

Which varieties of currants are susceptible to mite damage

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

Causes and symptoms of infection

Gardeners identify several common reasons why a tick begins 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 cobwebs on currants, which are 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 prevention.

The symptoms of pest damage depend on their variety. Currants are attacked by bud and spider mites.

Bud mites

You can notice the impact of the kidney mite by the appearance of the kidneys, which increase in size and differ in shape from he althy ones. Also, a bud mite on blackcurrant leads to a change in the color and shape of the leaves on the tops of fresh shoots. Leaf plates become rough to the touch, lose color and deform.

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

Spiderweb

Recognizing the defeat of black or red currants by spider mites is also not particularly difficult. The most obvious sign is the formation of a thin cobweb 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 later begin to rot.

The consequences of defeat

If you do not apply protective measures and do not get rid of the harmful insect before the formation of ovaries, there will be a risk of critical crop loss. As a result of exposure to bushes, mites reduce fruiting, destroy ovaries on flowers, and damage foliage.

The lack of treatment of plants increases the likelihood of infections. Even disease-resistant varieties of currants are exposed to viruses after the influence of a spider or kidney mite. The presence of the pest most often provokes the development of powdery mildew.

How to deal with a tick

There are many ways to get rid of spider mites on currants. Since pests can attack bushes throughout the year, it is recommended to resort to integrated control and use various drugs to eliminate ticks.

We use folk remedies

The most popular folk method is to prepare a solution of finely chopped garlic and onions. Chopped vegetables are diluted with water and kept for a day. 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 plants. Spray bushes 3-4 times a day, as mites leave eggs on the foliage, which are highly resistant to liquid influence.

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. These plants include: dandelion, yarrow, celandine, dope, calendula and wormwood. The collection of herbs can be used in dried form, placed in small bags and placed next to the plantings to repel insects.

Biological enemies

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

It is unacceptable to treat bushes with berries with insecticidal preparations and use spider mites to fight enemies, since insecticides have a detrimental effect on both types of mites. If spraying with a soapy solution or a preparation containing mineral oil was used as a way to combat harmful insects, it is possible to launch predatory mites into the greenhouse only after a week.

Use of special preparations

When standard methods of pest control do not bring the desired result, it becomes necessary to use special tools. These include acaricides and biological products that effectively destroy pests on currant bushes.

Chemical acaricides

Acaricide solution is used before bud break. Known chemical acaricides are the preparations Akarin, Agravertin, Bitoxibacillin. After treatment, the death of pests occurs in a day, and for the next 20-25 days a protective layer remains on the foliage that repels insects.

Processing is carried out under the condition of dry and calm weather. The leaves are moistened on both sides 2-3 times with an interval of about 5 days. Since pests are able to develop resistance to chemicals in a short time, it is recommended to rotate the preparations.

Biologicals

Biological products are also suitable for destroying the habitat of ticks, which are an alternative to chemicals. Substances are based on living microorganisms, including bacteria and antagonist fungi. Common biologics are: Bisolbifit, Lepidocide and Fitoverm.

How to get rid of parasites: rules and terms for processing bushes

When dealing with pests, you need to follow a few rules and adhere to the recommended deadlines. Proper processing is the key to maintaining the yield of currants.

We fight the pest before the currant blossoms

Before the active flowering of the bushes, it is better to use infusions from natural ingredients for processing. 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, chemicals are not allowed, as caustic components can adversely affect the taste characteristics of the berries. It is better to use organic substances or herbal preparations that repel parasites from the bushes.

In autumn, when the entire crop is harvested, it is advisable to use powerful preparations that can destroy pests for a long time. In addition, autumn processing helps prevent larvae from overwintering on plants.

Prevention of ticks in the garden

The implementation of a set of preventive measures can reduce the likelihood of damage to currants by spider mites. Recommended for prevention:

1. Provide a favorable environment. Often parasites appear in dry or excessively humid air, so the humidity indicator should be controlled.
2. Spray regularly. Even in the absence of visible signs of pests, protective treatments of plants should be carried out periodically.
3. Stick to complete care. Currant bushes need to be watered, shaped for aeration, cut off old branches and dried leaves.

The use of preventive methods not only prevents pests, but also has a positive effect on the growth and development of bushes. Cultivated in the right conditions, plantings bring a stable harvest with high palatability.

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