Acari are small eight-legged members of the Arachnida class. They infest ornamental trees, agricultural crops, fruit plants, shrubs, and other plant types. Although these pests are tiny, they still manage to cause massive damage by sucking sap from your greenery.
Acari
Signs of damage
- Yellowish or white spots. These dots are the pests’ puncture points. Little dots merge into larger spots over time.
- Leaf discoloration. The foliage damaged by Arcani turns brown. In some cases, you can notice interveinal chlorosis only (yellowing of the tissue between the leaf veins). If the damage is severe, the leaves fall off.
- Rolled-up leaves. As a result of the Arcani infestation, the leaves curl along the edges.
- Shoot drop. The heavily infected shoot may drop on the 7th-12th day of the infestation.
- Flower drop. Malformation of the growing tissue in flowers is the first sign of the damage. Later on, the flowers drop.
- Fruit drop. The infested fruit areas look burnt and have a rough texture. In the worst-case scenario, the fruit falls off.
- Stunted growth. Acari pests affect plant growth and slow it down.
How to prevent
Keep the area clean. If your plant grows outdoors, remove the weeds from the soil before they overgrow. This way, you will keep the growing medium loose and save the soil moisture. Bleach the tree holes with a lime solution that contains copper sulfate.
Provide your plants with the necessary minerals. Incorporate organic matter (for instance, mulch) into the soil and feed your houseplants with nutrient-rich fertilizers. In such a way, you will improve their resistance to Acari.
Avoid watering malpractices since unhealthy plants are prone to mites infestations.
Heal
Try to knock the pests off using a strong water stream. Aim the water hose directly at the leaves, especially the undersides. After that, spray the plant with neem oil or insecticidal soap spray. Don’t forget to mist the undersides of the leaves and other hard-to-reach areas.
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