BUGS!! What are these?

[Kevster]

I found there little white colored bugs that leave webs all over my schefflera. The new leaves that bud out now have brown spots on them and it seems to have stunted it's growth completely.

Does anyone know what this it? I rinsed the plants off before which seemed to have helped but they are back. Not as bad but they are back. I should have taken a picture but I sprayed them all off again.

Any help would be great!
Thanks,
Kevin

 

[daygan]

Sounds like spider mites. Here's another article on spider mites with useful pesticides. I personally like to use ladybug larvae because I figure they can't breed immunity to being consumed by hungry predators

 

[treebeard55]

I agree with daygan that it sounds like spider mites. Can you post a picture?

Day, where do you get baby ladybugs?

 

[Kevster]

Spider Mites are exactly what I have! Thanks for the help. Now I just have to figure out an affective way to get rid of them. Lady bugs sounds like the way to go. Just don't know how if they would survive shipping with the weather still being cold.

 

[daygan]

I agree with daygan that it sounds like spider mites. Can you post a picture?

Day, where do you get baby ladybugs?

ha ... you have to look really hard usually anywhere there are ladybugs, there are ladybug larvae - as I understand it, they're particularly attracted to white colored flowers. At least, that's where I found mine last year - or was it buttercups? can't remember ... garden centers have ladybugs, I hear - maybe they have the larvae as well

 

[Bensbonsaipots]

If you don't need to stick with organic/IPM, I've had good luck with a horticultural oil on spider mites. It's relatively nontoxic (works by physically clogging their breathing spiracles) but even so I tend to spray it on a plant, leave it for a few hours then wash it off, which eliminates the mite infestation for months.

 

[edprocoat]

Sounds like a job for SPIDERMAN !

Bensbonsaipots, what type of horticultural oil do you use? I have used soapy water, diluted dish detergent in a spray bottle and then rinsed it off and it works fine.

ed

 

[Kevster]

I can confirm mine are gone. I can't believe how much they were affecting my plants! The schiffelaras (4 of them) that were affected I had just cut back to stumps and were pushing new growth but the growth didn't get any bigger for a few weeks. Then i noticed the mites were all over the new growth and the tiny leaves were speckled.
I took the plants to my kitchen sink and sprayed them 4 days in a row with just water. No more mites no more webs and the new growth has doubled it size since I started spraying it.

 

[JudyB]

I agree with daygan that it sounds like spider mites. Can you post a picture?

Day, where do you get baby ladybugs?

You can get them from quite a few garden stores online. I know that Gardens Alive! carries them. They ship them to you and you release them in the area you want them, and they generally stick around.