RED SPIDER MITE "We are so pleased with your products and service that we are recommending you to all our friends and customers" from Nick in Shropshire. "Absolutely magical! Definitely a life saver in the conservatory for plants such as datura and gardenia" Mrs M. of Warrington Introduce Phytoseiulus as soon as the red spider appears and the temp is above 16°c. RSM (Red Spider Mite) is a major pest under glass. They are a particular problem in conservatories where the combination of high temperatures and low humidity in the summer are ideal for their development. Their lifecycle will become modified to last all year long in an artificial environment (i.e. a heated conservatory) as long as the temp is above 10°c and the day length is increased by artificial lighting. For Red Spider Mite outdoors - RSM is particularly fond of conifers and strawberries and flourishes during dry, hot summer - Phytoseiulus can be used in warm sheltered areas where the temperatures rise above 16°c but the normal course of action is to use our natural spray SB Invigorator and spray regularly, concentrating on the underside of the leaves. N.B. Phytoseiulus does NOT control Apple Tree Mite. During the summer the adult RSM are just visible to the naked eye and can be found on the underside of leaves. They can be any colour from yellow, green, orange, brown or even black depending on the host plant although all have 2 dark spots on the rear of the body. The females over winter in the cracks of greenhouses and conservatories and emerge to lay eggs when the temperatures rise and the daylight increases. The eggs hatch to produce larvae which go through a number of stages before turning in to adults. All the stages in the RSM cycle feed on the underside of leaves. Left: Adult Red Spider Mite. The adult and young stages of RSM feed on the plant tissue. They pierce the cells and suck out the contents of the cell, killing it. This occurs mostly on the underside of the leaves causing small yellow / white spots to appear on the upper leaf surface. As the attack continues the death of more and more cells causes the leaf to turn yellow and die, eventually the whole plant is killed. As the number of RSM increases webs are produced across the shoot tips. RSM can be brought in to the greenhouse or conservatory either on plants (i.e. from the garden centre), on the clothing of people entering or on air movements on silk threads they produce themselves. Right: Typical RSM damage on cucumber leaf. Control Red Spider Mite in your greenhouse or conservatory : Spray with SB Invigorator if red spider mite is present and the temperature is below 16°c. Use SB Invigorator to control the RSM until the temperatures are high enough i.e. 16°c and then introduce Phytoseiulus. Introduce Phytoseiulus AS SOON as you see red spider mite and the temp is 16°c. (Phytoseiulus has been used commercially since the 1960's.) Help the Phytoseiulus by increasing the humidity by spraying the underside of the leaves with soft water and keeping the temperature above 16°c (but below 30°C). Also group infected plants together because if the foliage is touching the predator can "chase" the RSM from plant to plant. Only got a few plants? Use one intro. of 1000 phyto. Persistent infestation? Use a full course of 2 intros. of 1000 phyto 14 days apart. Heavy infestation? Use one intro. of 2000 phyto. Phytoseiulus is a tiny mite (pictured left), slightly smaller than a RSM and it feeds on all stages of the RSM eating up to 5 adults or 25 young larvae/eggs per day. Phytoseiulus is supplied in small tubes containing a minimum of 500 adults. The contents of the tube (inc. the vermiculite they are packed in) is simply sprinkled over the infected plants (pictured right). If the infestation of RSM is very heavy and there is webbing at the tips of the plants then break up the webs first with your fingers or with a feather duster and spray the plant first with SB Invigorator, concentrating on the underside of the leaves. "I just thought i would let you know that i used your predator mites on my Datura cuttings and they have totally wiped out the red spider mites where Ibefethrin didn't work. I won't use insecticides any more, predator mites are brilliant" Paul "Had a red spider problem- tried all kinds of chemical sprays- no effect. Used phyto.-haven't seen any since" Mr J. from Norwich. " I had 2 peaches and nectarines that were practically dying from RSM. I used Phyto. and now they are fruiting marvelously." Mr J of Reading SB Plant Invigorator - This natural spray is going to be of great help to the green gardener as it not only controls a range of pests in a safe and effective way, but it also controls fungal diseases and contains a foliar feed. Available as a 500ml ready to use spray, as a 250ml concentrate (makes 25 litres of spray) or NEW for 2008, as a 1 litre super concentrate (makes 500 litres) for use in your own sprayer. SB Plant Invigorator should be in your store cupboard ready to :-  Control pests during the winter and spring when it is too cold to use beneficial insects (i.e. in unheated greenhouses / conservatories). There are no harmful chemical residues left behind, so beneficial insects can be introduced AS SOON as the temperatures are warm enough. Control any pest hotspots ONCE natural controls have been introduced. Use SB Plant Invigorator to target any pest hotspots. It will not harm beneficial insects once they have been introduced. Use for a pest emergency - been away or not noticed a rapid build up of pests such as red spider mite or greenfly? - use SB Plant Invigorator to get control BEFORE introducing beneficial insects. Special Offer - Emergency Red Spider Pest Pack - "Help red spider mite numbers are building up. What should I do?" Use our Emergency red spider mite pest pack containing 250ml of SB Plant Invigorator & one intro. of 2000 phytoseiulus. Spray with SB Invigorator for 2 weeks. Introduce phyto to establish a breeding colony for long term control. The phyto will be sent automatically 14 days after the invigorator. Emergency Red Spider Mite Pest Pack £32.50 PRODUCTS AVAILABLE N.B. All courses NOW contain TWICE as many phytoseiulus as last year. NAME DESCRIPTION PRICE ADD Phytoseiulus Half course - 1 intro. of 1000 phyto saving £4.99 on last years price. £12.00 Full course - 2 intros. of 1000 phyto 14 days apart saving £10.00 in last years price. £23.00 Economy pack of 2000 saving £4.00 £20.00 Emergency Red Spider Mite Pest Pack 250ml SB Invigorator and 2000 phytoseilus £32.50 SB Plant Invigorator 1 x 500ml ready to use spray £9.99 1 x 250ml concentrate makes 25 litres of spray £12.50 NEW - 1 x 1 litre super concentrate makes 500 litres - equivalent to 20 x 250ml bottles saving ALOT! £49.99 Release lacewing larvae and / or ladybirds into your garden to control aphids (both greenfly/ blackfly) and other soft-bodied pests. CLICK HERE to find out more.