On Fri, 02 Apr 2004 15:48:50 GMT, "peter" wrote:

My arborvitaes are infected with spider mites. Using insecticide "soap" kill
most of them for a while, but it's impossible to kill all of them, so they
come back eventually.

I heard I can buy bugs to kill them. Any idea where I can buy them? I don't
think home depot sells bugs.

I live in Seattle.
-peter


Spider mites thrive in hot dry conditions. Hose down your arborvitae
every other day until you have them under control. Black lady bugs
(Stethorus species), both adult and larvae, eat mites. You could mail
order these or ask at your local farmer's coop. As you mentioned a
fine spray of soapy water helps too, try to spray under the leaves
from below. If none of this is possible or practical, you might need
to resort to using an insecticide such as malathion or dimethoate, but
mites are notorious for becoming resistant to the repeat use of any
one product.