Garden Pest and Plant Disease Listing - SP

SPIDER MITE: An extremely small (resembling ground pepper), yellow, red, or brown, spider-like insect that sucks juices from the foliage of many plants, especially fruits and vegetables. It flourishes in hot, dry weather and on dusty, drought-stressed plants. It causes discoloration of the leaves, which are often covered with a fine web. Plants will weaken and eventually die. This can be prevented with beneficial insects (such as the predator mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis), horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, sulfur sprays, or traditional insecticides. If the plants are grown in a greenhouse, try raising the humidity as well.

SPINED SOLDIER BUG: A beneficial insect, which is mainly used to control the Mexican bean beetle, although it feeds on a variety of other plant pests. They can be purchased through the mail.

SPITTLEBUG: A small bug that conceals itself in a frothy secretion. It rarely harms plants but can be controlled with insecticidal soap.

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