How Cold Can Spider Mites Survive?
WouterSpider mites are arachnids that are found on a variety of plants. They can be a nuisance in a garden. They are small, pale green insects with two dark spots on their backs. They are more closely related to ticks than spiders.
They live in warm, humid environments and reproduce rapidly. They prefer temperatures in the high 80s to low 90s. They do not survive cold weather for long. They can also survive in moist conditions. If the temperature drops below 65 degrees, they hibernate.
They also have the ability to enter diapause. A diapause occurs when a spider-mite’s day length decreases. The food quality is important in inducing a diapause. If the food is poor, the spider-mite may stay active until the right time for it to enter dormancy.
If a mite’s daylength is less than 14 hours, about 50% of the females will enter diapause. This condition is only a temporary respite. A higher temperature will suppress diapause.
The main factors involved in inducing a diapause are the temperature, the food quality and the daylength. A higher temperature will kill the mites quickly, while a lower temperature will inhibit dormancy.
The diapause behavior of spider-mites is difficult to control. In fact, the spider-mite can actually overwinter in some parts of the world. However, if conditions are suitable for success, the mites are capable of going through the entire life cycle.
When the spider-mites are in the dormant stage, they can still be harmed by predatory insects. For example, lady beetles and lacewigs are known to be natural predators of these pests.
