Spider mites are a type of insect that are very difficult to eradicate and keep under control. While some spider mite treatments may kill this pest for a time, many will only do so for a short period. When you’re looking for an effective way to kill spider mites and prevent them from spreading, you may be wondering if spinosad kills spider mites.
Spinosad is a contact insecticide used to treat spider mites and other pests. It’s safe for both plants and humans. It makes its way into the insect’s reproductive system and disrupts the formation of chrysalises, eggs, and larvae.
Spider mites are common plant pests that suck the sap of plants causing them to wilt and die when not controlled. You will find them in your garden and on plants as they eat the leaves, flower buds, or fruits.
If you have spinosad or have used it before and wondering if it will get rid of spider mites infestation, read on about everything you need to know about spinosad and killing spider mites.
How spinosad kill spider mites
Spinosad is a synthetic chemical that kills spider mites. It is available as a liquid or in a spray. The product should be applied to the leaves of your plant and can also be mixed with water and sprayed on the soil around your plants.
Spinosad is a contact pesticide that kills spider mites by damaging their nervous systems, causing them to die from stress. It’s more like a broad-spectrum pesticide that will kill a wide range of pests, including spider mites. It works by interfering with the nervous system of pests, causing them to experience dizziness and paralysis.
This causes them to drop from their webs or crawl away when they encounter it on their bodies, apparently unable to move or feel pain anymore.
The best time to apply it is when the mites are most active, usually in the evening or early morning. It may take up to three weeks for full control of spider mites. Spray all foliage thoroughly with spinosad at one time. Do not spray any plant with spinosad more than once per week. Servin is another good pesticide to deal with mites infestation.
Spider mites are similar to aphids; they can cause severe damage to your plants and are harder to control than most other pests.
Spinosad is known for being safe for people and pets, though some people may experience skin irritation if exposed to direct sunlight for too long after applying it. You should check with your doctor before applying spinosad if you have any medical conditions or are pregnant or lactating.
Spinosad Safe for Your Garden
You may want to consider using a natural method of killing mites. Spinosad is a natural insecticide that kills mites but can also kill beneficial insects and other arthropods. Spinosad is derived from the soil bacterium Streptomyces griseus, which produces the active ingredient cantharidin.
Cantharidin has been used for centuries as an insecticide, but because it’s so toxic, it’s usually applied as a spray or dust to surfaces. The EPA classifies cantharidin as a highly toxic substance with an acute oral LD50 of 3,400 mg/kg in male mice and 4,500 mg/kg in female mice—that’s more than four times the amount that would be lethal to humans!
Cantharidin is a neurotoxin that affects the nervous system and causes vomiting and diarrhea. It also damages red blood cells and interferes with breathing. However, this chemical has been banned in many countries due to its harmful effects on humans and animals (including honeybees). The EPA includes cantharidin on the list of “restricted use pesticides” because of its high toxicity level.
How to use spinosad to kill spider mites
Spinosad is a pesticide that’s used to control spider mites. It can be used indoors or outdoors and is safe for use on plants, lawns, shrubs, trees, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. You can use spinosad in your garden by spraying it on your plants or mixing it into a spray solution.
Spinosad is also available as an oil spray and as a concentrate you mix with water. Depending on how much of the chemical you want to use, you’ll need to decide which method of application works best for you.
If you want to use spinosad on your plants and garden, follow these steps:
- Spray your plants using a fine mist to wet all plant surfaces with the spray bottle.
- To help the spray penetrate cracks and crevices between leaves, stems, and branches of plants, spray the entire plant thoroughly with water before spraying it with spinosad.
- Spray spinosad directly onto spider mite-infested areas on plants such as leaves or stems where they can sit for long periods without being washed away by rain or watering.
- Repeat this process every week till your plant or garden is free of mites and other pesky pests.
Spinosad will Kill Spider Mite Eggs.
Spinosad is a contact insecticide that only works when it comes into direct contact with the pest. This means you must spray it directly onto the pest to work effectively. It kills spider mite eggs and larvae, but you will have to spray it on the eggs and larvae.
Spinosad is a natural insecticide that kills insects by disrupting the insect’s nervous system. It’s used against several pests, including spider mites, aphids, and thrips.
Spinosad works quickly; it kills spider mite eggs within 24 hours of exposure to the chemical. Because it doesn’t linger in the environment or on plants (like many other pesticides do), it’s safe for use around people and pets.
Possible side effects of using spinosad
Spinosad is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that has been used for many years to control a range of plant-pathogenic fungi, such as Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, and Verticillium.
Spinosad is generally considered safe and has been approved by the FDA for use on food crops.
While it may cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and headache in some people if exposed to high doses of the chemical, it is unlikely to cause any long-term harm.
If you think spinosad might be affecting you (e.g., if you feel nauseous), consult your physician immediately.
If you use spinosad on your plants, there are a few possible side effects. These include:
- The use of spinosad can cause leaf spotting and chlorosis (yellowing) of leaves in some plants. This is caused by overuse of the product and can be avoided by ensuring that you follow the recommended dosage instructions.
- Spinosad has been shown to kill off certain beneficial bugs, bees, and butterflies. If you are concerned about this, it is best not to use spinosad on your plant.
Natural Methods to Kill Spider Mites
If you are not interested in killing beneficial insects in your garden, you may want to reconsider using spinosad. There are numerous natural ways of getting rid of spider mites without killing beneficial insects in your garden. There are also some natural methods that can help you in the long run, but for now, I’ll talk about the ones that will kill them fast and effectively.
Also, this method will keep your garden healthy in general. Read more on the various natural ways you can get rid of your spider mites; here are some of the most popular options.
- One of the most effective ways to eliminate mites is by dish soap. Dish soap is effective because it’s made up of surfactants that disrupt cell membranes, thus preventing adult mites from feeding on their prey (plant cells). Apply dish soap directly to infested areas once a week until all dead bodies have been cleared
- Another effective method is using a mixture of vinegar and water. You can use any vinegar, but white vinegar is the most commonly used. Mix one part of white vinegar into a bowl with four parts of water to make a spray.
- You can also try using baking soda. This will help eliminate the mite infestation by making their eggs unable to hatch into larvae or adult mites. Mix half a cup of baking soda with one cup of water and pour it over your plants. Let the mixture sit for an hour before rinsing the plant with a hose.
- Flush the affected area with water for about five minutes will suffocate them.
- You can also spray a strong solution of soapy water made of dish soap or detergent over the affected area. This will kill them by suffocating them as well as removing their exoskeleton. You can make insecticidal soap by mixing water with borax or washing soda (sodium carbonate).
- Hydrogen peroxide: Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide in 2 parts water and spray this mixture onto the leaves of affected plants. This will prevent future infestations by killing eggs hatched during the current infestation.
- Rubbing Alcohol: Use a mixture of 1 part water and 1 part rubbing alcohol to kill spider mites on plants. Spray the mixture onto the plant, wait for it to dry, and then brush it off with a broom or hand brush. If you want to use this method on more than one plant, let each one sit for 15 minutes before brushing them off.
- Encourage natural predators – if you have a garden, keep the spiders out and encourage the natural predators like ladybugs and mealybugs.
- Hot pepper or lemon juice: If you have a hot pepper or lemon to hand, this is a quick and easy way to kill spider mites. Rub the skin of the pepper or lemon over the affected area and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. You can also use a dishwashing liquid such as Fairy Liquid or Dawn. Be careful not to burn yourself.