Red spider mites at home: 5 excellent ways to keep them away from the premises
One of the few drawbacks of the summer is the return of all kinds of insects - from flies that pester us to mosquitoes that make our evenings a nightmare. Amongst these pests is a very tiny "visitor": red spider mites (Bryobia praetiosa).
These mites are actually very useful as they feed on larvae that are potentially harmful to plants and do not cause any harm to humans. However, they can be very annoying because, when squashed, they release a red pigment that stains fabrics and surfaces.
So how do you get rid of red spider mites? Today, we suggest 5 ways:
There are several natural remedies that can help us get rid of red spider mites:
- White vinegar: this is perhaps the quickest remedy to keep these unwelcome guests away from your home, since you just need to mix water and vinegar in equal parts in a spray dispenser and spray it on the areas affected by the infestation. Alternatively, you can also wet a cotton ball with this mixture and pass it over the balcony railing or on the clothesline (if they are also infested).
- Garlic is not only an excellent ingredient for our dishes, but is also a very useful antiparasitic and antibacterial agent. Boil a few cloves in water for about 20 minutes, then let it cool and filter it, putting the infusion in a spray bottle that you can spray on the infested area. The smell will not be very pleasant, but the remedy will certainly be effective!
- An onion also acts in the same way as the previous remedy (garlic): follow the same procedure for excellent results.
- Marseille soap is a pesticide that can act in two ways: used as laundry soap it will perfume your laundry while protecting it from unwelcome guests; furthermore, dissolved in a little water, it can be sprayed in the surrounding area.
- You can prepare a mixture of 1 tablespoon of dish soap and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil dissolved in 1 liter of water and spray it around the infected areas.
- Finally, aromatic plants (like spices), in addition to being very useful in the kitchen, will protect you from insects that cannot abide their smell.
Other useful precautions to keep red spider mites away is the frequent irrigation of the areas usually infested by them (since the mites love dry environments). You can also make use of their natural enemies such as ladybugs to keep the mites under control. In specialized shops you can buy ladybugs and also find another mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, which will also prey on red spider mites.
However, if the infestation is serious, you may need to consult an expert.
Do you have to deal with this problem in summer?
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