Anyone know what this is?

[Alpinejs]

My Box Car Willie's foliage is all covered with what appears to be an extremely
fine spider web. After examining with a magnifying glass, I see thousands
a speck sized rust colored moving insects that are far too small to determine
that they are actually spiders, but they definitely move around the web.
I don't find any larger insects that might be parents to these extremely
minute little bugs.

They don't appear to have damaged the plant and it is still setting fruit, but
I really don't want it to spread, so sprayed with a bug spray. I marked all
current maters for seed and not eating.

Anyone got the answer?

[Elizabeth]

Sounds like you have spider mites. They can do significant damage to your plants if they aren't controlled. Sometimes aggressively spraying the plants with water will knock the population down but you will have to keep doing it every few days. If the plant is in a pot, see if you can move it away from others so they don't get them too.

Regular insecticides won't work, you will need a mitacide or insecticidal soap or insecticidal oil (like a neem oil) to kill the ones that are left after the wash down.

Don't use any general insecticide except for the soaps or oils - there are some predatory insects that help with spider mites and you don't want to kill any of those coming in for dinner. Spider mites tend to have a population explosion after infected plants have been sprayed with regular insecticides.

[Worth1]

It sounds like spider mites.
http://www.garden.org/pestlibrary/bu...q=show&id=1633

Worth

[rnewste]

Yep, you've got a Tomato Russet Mite infestation. Once they have nested, this is what "gift" they bring:



The best way I have found to control / prevent them is early spraying with Take Down Garden Spray:



It may however, be too late for your plant, as once you see them - - it is ALREADY too late!!

Raybo

[Alpinejs]

Thanks all, you were right. Spider mites according to Google.

Raybo, where did you buy that mitracide in the picture? Your garden picture brought tears
to my eyes.

I got this plant from a guy that has hundreds of pepper plants so I will drive over and
warn him.

[rnewste]

You can find Take Down at most Nurseries. About $16.00 per pint. You can also find it on Amazon.com

Raybo

[Sun City Linda]

I think there is a thread here on tomato russet mites. I ended up using sulfer powder quite successfully mid summer but you cant use it with any oil base for, I think 30 days. Good luck, Linda

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Sun City Linda

I think there is a thread here on tomato russet mites. I ended up using sulfer powder quite successfully mid summer but you cant use it with any oil base for, I think 30 days. Good luck, Linda

Here is the thread.
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=18925

Worth

[tessa]

yes...tomato russet mites. the bane of my exixtance!
i find pyrethrum the best cure. also...it's organic.

[Alpinejs]

Tomorrow, Box Car Willie goes in the dumpster, much as I hate to do it as he
has 3 nice maters on their way, but.......

The only other signs are on Earl's Faux and I think I will just prune out a
large aread and hope for the best.

Thanks for all the help.

BTW, how does one find the more appropriate thread to post stuff like this?

[Heritage]

Alpine,

I'm just down the hill from you in Bonsall - I'm assuming, with our recent frosts, you must have these plants growing under plastic, or inside?

If it is the end of your season, the effort/cost to control the mites probably isn't worth the return. If these are young plants, I would try to get on top of the infestation as soon as possible - mites can wipe out a lot of plants in a surprisingly short amount of time.

There is quite a bit of good advice for controlling mites in this, and other, T'Ville threads.

Good luck!
Steve

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Alpinejs

BTW, how does one find the more appropriate thread to post stuff like this?

When you log on it will have categories in the index ,General discussion, seed starting diseases and pests, potatoes, dwarf project and so forth.
A rather long list of areas to start threads and ask questions.
No worries.

Worth

[LuvsToPlant]

Just thought I would mention...
Tomato Russet Mite and Spider Mite are two different pests.

The web you describe...sounds like Spider mite
The two insects are treated differently.

I agree with Elisabeth above in post #2

Spider mite is not really and insect but a spider.

[tessa]

yes...spider mites inhabit the bottoms of the leaves, and russett mites inhabit the tops and stems. but they can both be treated the same way, thankfully.

[LuvsToPlant]

I feel diffrent on the treatment...of the two pests.Spider mite...best treatment is insectical oils and soaps.Tomato Russet mites...is Sulfur dust or wettable sulfur.Thats how we manage ...