What is glasshouse red spider mite?
Mites are a group of aracnids belonging to the Acari. Most mites are small (< 1mm), they are important parts of most ecosystems, many species being predatory or feeding on decomposing organic matter. Some feed on plants.
Glasshouse red spider mite can be one of the most troublesome problems of greenhouse plants and houseplants. It can also feed on garden plants during summer. It is a sap-sucking mite that causes a mottled appearance, and in severe cases, leaf loss and plant death.
The mite can feed on a very wide range of houseplants and greenhouse plants, both ornamentals and edibles, including: vines, peach, nectarines, cucumbers, tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, Fuchsia, Pelargonium, poinsettias, orchids and Impatiens. The host range of this mite is so wide that few plants are completely immune.
Glasshouse red spider mite thrives in warm, dry conditions, it is usually only a problem from March to October, but damage can occur at other times in a heated greenhouse. It can also cause problems outdoors in summer, especially in hot, dry weather.