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In our modern American culture, we rely heavily on chemicals to do all sorts of jobs for us. It should come as no surprise then, that when we think in terms of pests like the spider mite our first reaction is to deal with them using chemicals. We have become so chemical pendant that many of us don't even consider whether or not there are natural remedies. Where spider mites are concerned, the question remains whether or not using miticides is always a good idea.

Miticides are simply pesticides which have been engineered specifically to eradicate various types of mites. As effective as these chemicals may be, there are some drawbacks which suggests that they might not always be the right solution. The first drawback lies in the fact that there are dozens of different mite species; some are affected by certain miticides while others may not be. Someone who is not knowledgeable about spider mites or miticides may choose a chemical which is inappropriate to his situation and which makes matters worse.

Ineffective Miticides

If you were to purchase a miticide to deal with an unknown spider mite, you would probably apply the chemical and then go about your merry way and assume everything would be fine. But if you bought a miticide that's ineffective against this particular species, it could reproduce and turn into a full-blown infestation before you knew what hit you. This is a common scenario among home gardeners who don't have the knowledge to fight spider mites properly.

Miticides that Kill Predators

Another common mistake is to use a miticide which is so broad in scope that it kills other insects as well. In Louisiana for example, the two-spotted spider mite is a year-round problem for strawberry farmers. Yet many of them use a miticide classified as a pyrethroid. While this substance will be effective against the spider mites, it also kills the mite's natural predator's right along with them. And since spider mites can multiply much faster than we get rid of them, destroying their natural predators only makes matters worse. The trick is to get rid of the spider mites without harming anything else.

Organic Solutions

Spider mite infestations are a classic case in defense of organic solutions. A product like Liquid Ladybug contains no toxic substances that will harm plants, animals, or other insects. Products like this are mostly botanical oils which are used to treat the eggs of spider mites and prevent them from hatching. By interrupting the birth cycle, Liquid Ladybug can prevent a small infestation from becoming a large one. Meanwhile, the spider mites natural predators can take care of the majority of the adult ones.

Because organic treatments tend to target the spider mite, and nothing else, they would seem to be a better option than chemical miticides. In fairness, sometimes a massive infestation requires a combination of several treatments including miticides, organic compounds, and the introduction of more natural predators.