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

"peter" wrote:

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

Whatever you do, don't use Sevin. It kills the parasites that kill
spider mites. It will make the problem much worse.

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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.

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.

"peter" wrote in message
...
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


Peter, you can buy them at http://www.agricology.com/products/index.php
which is based in Wenatchee. I find them very helpful with beneficials and
other organic gardening issues.

Leslie
zone 5, Eastern WA (and very happy to have a news server again!)