Mite species likely to invade your tomato lands are more prevalent in hot, dry conditions. Two common spider mites are the tomato red mite (Tetranychus evansi) and two-spotted mite (T. urticae). The former appears in various shades of red, while the latter has a large spot on each side of the abdomen when seen from above.
Spider mites generally start off in a few patches on the land and then spread rapidly. They are carried on the wind in the same way that newly hatched spiders are: with the help of a silk thread.
They are also easily spread by workers brushing against infected plants; the mites ‘catch a ride’ on clothing.
LIFE CYCLE
The life cycle is rapid: at 25°C, it is completed in just two weeks. The female lays between 50 and 250 eggs during her lifespan; the hotter the conditions, the higher the number of eggs laid.
Esta historia es de la edición Farmer's Weekly 19 August 2022 de Farmer's Weekly.
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Esta historia es de la edición Farmer's Weekly 19 August 2022 de Farmer's Weekly.
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