Today we are going to talk about a type of spider that is well known for its damage to crops and orchards. It is about the red spiders. This species receives many different names, being the red spider the most common. It is a species very humiliated by the vast majority of farmers since it causes damage to crops.
In this article we are going to tell you all the characteristics, habitat, life cycle and how to combat red spider mites.
Key features
The scientific name of this species is Tetranychus urticae. It is not a type of spider, but actually mites. However, it has one of the characteristics for which it confuses and that is that they are capable of weaving cobwebs to protect their eggs. They also hunt tiny insects. These mites prefer dry places and avoid wet times of the year as much as possible. For this reason, they mainly damage cereal plantations or plantations that are cultivated in dry areas. The common man of the red spider come from its coloration. There are some specimens with an intense red color, while other species have some more orange tones.
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These animals are very copied as they begin to devour the plants in which they stay. It has a rounded body and very small legs compared to the rest of the body. When they are adults they can measure 0.5 mm. In his thorax we can find some small dots of a coppery red color. Something interesting for which this species stands out is that it is capable of changing color depending on the time of year in which it is found. Therefore, we can see that in the summer they have a lighter brown color and have some round black spots on each side of their abdomen. On the other hand, in winter, it has a reddish but more intense body color.
These are the reason why they are sometimes confused with other different spiders even though they are of the same species.
Red spider mites habitat
These spiders need dry spaces that do not have any degree of humidity. They are very common in those areas where the temperature remains stable for a long time. without humidity, They can spread quite quickly. In the case in which you can find red spiders in the rainy season, find them in caves or other areas where they can escape from the water. In these areas they take advantage of any plant to feed themselves.
In the case in which you find a red spider on a plantation or crop, they will stay there since they have plenty of food. In addition, they can take refuge in wooden games or areas where water does not reach. With this data it is easier to capture the areas where red spider mites can be found. They are very resistant to all kinds of climates, but it is in drier times when the population of these spiders increases considerably. It is here where they take advantage of the good weather to be able to mate and further expand their populations.
Regarding the ability they have to produce a web despite being mites, they only use it to protect themselves from predators and toxic agents. For example, they can end up resisting some acaricides that are used to fumigate crops thanks to the use of cobwebs. The strategist we find a very resistant consistency and is able to prevent the toxins from exceeding and reaching the interior of the spider. In this way, they look very protected.
They can live in large colonies of innumerable specimens that protect themselves with the big heart formed by their webs. It can be found under the leaves of the trees since it is a place where they will not get wet from rainwater.
Feeding of red spider mites
These spiders or mites are very common in greenhouses. And it is that greenhouses have become the perfect cultivation places for their expansion. They have a climatic characteristic both for their feeding and for their reproduction. They can feed mainly on vegetables such as tomatoes, beans, peppers and some ornamental plants such as roses. In this way, they manage to feed on more than 100 different types of plants.
The way to feed a plant is simple. They do not usually devour the leaves as other arachnids could, but instead manage to absorb the nucleus and the nutrient components found within. These nutrients are in the tissue of the leaves. Because of this way of limiting themselves, they are able to make the plant unable to grow and die. One of the most obvious symptoms is that they leave the plant looking much paler with a color close to brown or yellow.
We may think that the damage caused by the mite to the plant is minor, but they normally inhabit colonies of hundreds or even thousands. To this we add the voracity of many of the specimens, which causes the great problem for the plants.
Reproduction
The problem that these animals have in crops is a reproductive life. They reproduce very quickly. In about 25 days, the females can lay 100 eggs. This means that the plague can spread quickly. Therefore, populations must be used and reduced as soon as possible so that they do not cause too much damage to crops. The eggs stand out for being spherical, smooth and very shiny. At first they are white and darken as they evolve.
The way to eliminate red spider mites from crops is to use soapy water on the logs to kill the eggs that are laid. By attacking reproduction we will make the oldest individuals good and unable to reproduce. Each spider can lay about 4 eggs daily, so you'll need to use the soapy water often to prevent egg hatching. You should also know that nature is wise and that many insects will feed on small red spiders. In this case, we can bet on spraying plants with abamectin to kill the plant quickly.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about red algae and its characteristics.