Spider Mite Damage - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

Hobo · #1 (**permalink**) 05-17-2008, 12:25 PM

Ok im 99.9 percent sure this is spider mite damage. Notice the pale yellowish specs on the tops of the leaves. and the noticeable foliar damage underneat the leaves...

Here are a couple shots of the top of the leaf.

and heres the bottom (sorry for the blurryness)

Am i correct with this diagnosis?

scott06 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-17-2008, 12:40 PM

it certainly could be spider mite damage

the best diagnostic indicator are the spider mites themselves - see if you can find them

one way is to shake the suspected leaves onto a piece of paper and see if the little buggers fall out and scurry to get to the underside of the paper - you may need a mag lens of some sort

I also have found them on the intersection of the mainstem w/ the lower branches

anyone know a better way to find them?

green_nobody · #3 (**permalink**) 05-17-2008, 12:47 PM

a little info on them:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider_mite

there could be some in the OG FAQ in terms of pictures of those bugs and other. it could be but i'm too high to be sure what it is.

Hobo · #4 (**permalink**) 05-17-2008, 12:49 PM

i think ive seen gnats or some sort of mite crawling around in the soil too small to really tell exactly what it was, i havent anything since

jangel · #5 (**permalink**) 05-17-2008, 01:18 PM

If the backs of the leaves feel dusty or webbie then it is spider mites. They are sooooo small you usually can't see them but just feel the webs on the backs of the leaves. See if your local greenhouse or plant supply place has lady bugs or lacewings, something natural that will help get rid of them. Usually they come in on your clothes or on new plants. Make sure you check those clones and that they did not bring in the problem, hobo! Is this new? how long have you seen the problem?

Also, for the soil gnats try laying a piece of wood or something down on the soil for a few hours then lift it up. It should have whatever is the problem under there. You have to be real fast and look as they move fast. That can be very hard to get rid of. Try neem oil or dust with diatenacious earth (crushed shells I think) It is a powder. You can get it at home depot or any where that sells plant stuff. It is all natural and won't harm the plants. Also dust UNDER the pots. and in between pot and drain pan. The soil gnats usually don't harm anything but will feed on damaged roots or rotting anything. The theory is that the Diatenasous earth cuts the caripice of the insect and they die dehydrated. Works great on slugs too. Don't use if you have beneficials in your grow as it kills right across the board.