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Pests cause serious damage to berry bushes. Among them, one of the most dangerous insects is the spider mite. The pest feeds on plant sap and inhibits its development. A spider mite on currants can appear at any time of the summer cottage season. Special preparations, folk remedies, adherence to agricultural techniques help to fight it.
Signs of a spider mite on currants
The spider mite is a member of the spider family. Its dimensions are from 0.25 to 0.4 mm. The body of the insect is oval. Females are gray-green in color, which changes to red-orange by the end of the season. Males have an elongated body.
The pest hibernates in the bark of shrubs and plant debris. It dies at temperatures below -28 ° C. In the spring, after warming, the females leave the shelter and move to the lower part of the leaves, and then begin to weave a thick web where they lay their eggs.
For a period of 8 - 20 days, a new generation appears. At first, it lives on weeds: nettles, swans, plantains. In the middle of summer, the pest moves to berry bushes, including currants.
A spider mite is identified by a number of signs:
- thin web on shoots and berries;
- chiseled white spots on the leaves, which eventually become marbled and brown;
- twisted sheet plate;
- premature drying and leaf fall.
Photo of a spider mite on currants:
Why is a spider mite on currants dangerous?
The spider mite is dangerous at all stages of its development. The pest pierces the leaf plate and feeds on plant sap. In this case, chlorophyll grains are lost. As a result, the leaves lose their color, and their cells die off. Gradually, the lesion spreads over the entire surface.
Under the influence of insects, currants lose their decorative appearance. Its leaves dry out and fall off. The bush does not receive the required development, and its growth slows down. In case of serious damage, the plant may die from a lack of moisture.
Spider mites cause serious damage to yields. If the pest appeared before the formation of ovaries, then fruiting may decrease by 30 - 70%. If it is found during the ripening of berries, then there are chances to save the crop.
The distribution area of the pest includes Europe, Asia, America and Australia. It is also found in the High North. If measures are not taken in time, the tick will move to other plants. In the risk zone, not only currants, but also other crops: apple, gooseberry, strawberry, all stone fruit trees.
Remedies for spider mites on currants
There are various methods to get rid of the pest. Chemicals are considered the most effective. In addition to them, natural substances and agricultural techniques are used against insects.
Chemicals
The basis of tick chemicals is paralytic poisons.When a pest enters the body, they suppress the activity of nerve cells. The result is paralysis and death of the insect.
Chemicals have a quick effect on the insect organism. If the dosage is observed, they are safe for humans, plants and bees. The active substances decompose quickly in the soil.
To treat currants from spider mites with preparations, a working solution is prepared. Be sure to follow the precautions: use protective equipment for the eyes and respiratory system. Children and animals are removed from the place of work. To spray the solution, take a spray bottle. It is best to process on a cloudy, dry day. In sunny weather, choose the morning or evening period.
Folk remedies
From spider mites on red currants, folk methods help well. They contain only natural ingredients that do not contain hazardous chemicals. Such funds are completely safe for people and animals. This includes wood ash, tobacco dust, and herbal infusions.
Spider mites are repelled by strong odors. Therefore, to combat it on currants, plants are chosen that have this property. The most effective remedies are wormwood, dandelion, celandine, onion or garlic.
Folk remedies have no restrictions on use. They are used at any stage of development of the currant bush. Preparations based on natural ingredients are good pest prevention.
Biological methods
Biological agents involve the use of natural enemies. These are predatory insects - phytoseiulus and amblyseius, which feed on other insects. They kill up to 100 individuals per day.
This method is expensive, so it is rarely used in personal subsidiary plots. Predatory mites are bred in bran or vermiculite. They develop rapidly at high humidity and temperatures of +25 ° C.
Fitoseyulus spreads within 7 to 9 days. The female lives up to 25 days and lays up to 5 new eggs. New insects appear from them, which destroy the next generations of ticks on currants.
Agrotechnical measures to combat currant spider mites
Measures to combat spider mites on black currants begin with agricultural technology. Often the pest appears when the rules for caring for the bushes are violated.
First, they turn to the bush watering regime. Ordinary water will help to cope with the pest. Insects do not tolerate high humidity, which reaches 90% or more. Therefore, the bushes are sprayed every 2 to 3 days. The procedure is carried out in the morning or evening, when there is no direct sunlight. If you spray the bush in the heat, the leaves will get burned. Be sure to use warm, settled water.
To combat the tick, it is important to change the feeding scheme. Fertilizers containing nitrogen become a favorable environment for the development of insects. Therefore, they are used only in early spring. In summer, currants are fed with phosphorus and potassium substances. Such fertilizers will increase the immunity of the bush and help it recover from a tick attack.
In the course of the fight against the pest, organics and preparations containing phytohormones and amino acids are abandoned. These substances contribute to the active reproduction of the mite on plants.
How to get rid of currant spider mites
When choosing a product, take into account the vegetation stage of the currant. Before flowering, chemical or biological preparations are used. During the fruiting period, they switch to folk remedies.
How to process currants from spider mites to flowering
Before flowering, currants are treated with chemicals. They help to quickly cope with the pest and preserve future ovaries. Below are the main preparations for spider mites on currants:
Karate Zeon
It works against many garden pests.Has a paralytic effect on insects that die within 24 hours after spraying. The waiting period is up to 40 days. The product is not washed off by rain.
Anti-mite
A reliable remedy against various types of ticks. Processing is carried out before the appearance of buds and after harvesting the berries. The interval between sprays is 10 days. The consumption of the drug is 1 ml per 1 liter of water. The resulting solution is enough to process 5 bushes.
Fitoverm
The drug does not penetrate into leaves and berries. As the temperature rises, its effectiveness increases. Consumption is 0.08 ml per 1 liter of water. This amount of solution is enough to process one bush. The interval between treatments is 2 - 3 weeks.
Akarin
An effective preparation for different types of crops. Has a high impact rate. The insect dies within 8 hours. To combat spider mites on currants, a solution is prepared in the spring. For 2 liters of water, 4 ml of insecticide is enough. The solution is enough to process an adult bush.
How to get rid of spider mites during fruiting
When the berries ripen, they refuse to use chemicals. It is best to use natural enemies or folk remedies.
Below are the popular options for processing currants during fruiting.
Bitoxibacillin
Biological product of broad impact. Does not accumulate in berries and leaves. The waiting period is 5 days. To spray currants from spider mites, prepare a working solution with a concentration of 1%. They are kept for 15 days between treatments.
Dandelion infusion
Collect 500 g of fresh roots or leaves in a bucket of warm water. The tool is insisted for 3 hours, after which it is filtered. The infusion is not stored, but immediately used on currants.
Tobacco dust
Add 350 g of dry tobacco to 10 liters of water. After a day, the mass must be boiled and diluted with the same amount of water. To keep the product on the leaves longer, add 50 g of crushed soap.
Infusion on onion peels. A large bucket of water requires 200 g of husk. The product is left for 5 days. Then it is filtered and used for spraying.
Soap solution
It is best to choose sulfur-tar soap. Pre-grind it with a knife or grater. Add 100 g of the resulting mass to a bucket of water. The solution is thoroughly mixed, then they start spraying the bush. The treatment is repeated after a week.
Preventive actions
Annual prevention will help protect currants from spider mites. This includes adherence to agricultural practices and preventive treatments. In the fall, fallen leaves are removed from the site, in which the pest hibernates. The soil under the bush is dug so that the females of the parasite are on the surface. When cold weather sets in, they die.
Spring prevention includes spraying. Use drugs Fitoverm or Bitoxibacillin. Treatment begins in early spring to eradicate the pest before the larvae appear.
In spring or autumn, currants are cut to avoid thickening of the bush. Nitrogen fertilizers are applied before flowering, after which they switch to phosphorus and potash compositions. In the near-trunk circle, weeds are regularly weeded.
Conclusion
A spider mite on currants appears during the growing season of a berry crop. The pest causes serious damage to the bushes. When choosing a method of struggle, the condition of the bush and the season are taken into account. Be sure to follow agricultural techniques, which will help get rid of the pest faster.
