Question 1

Will ladybugs treat spider mites?

Accepted Answer

You may have heard anecdotally from other sources that ladybugs are a good spider mite control; however, ladybugs do not feed primarily on spider mites. We don’t actively recommend them for spider mite control because if there are other food sources available, they will ignore the spider mites and move on.
Stethorus beetle, one of the bugs we do advertise for spider mite control, is actually a relative of ladybugs, and is what should be recommended instead of ladybugs. They are a far more effective spider mite predator than ladybugs specifically.

Question 2

What do you recommend for treating spider mite?

Accepted Answer

We recommend using a combination of three products: persimilis, fallacis, and stethorus. You can read more about those products here.

Question 3

Is persimilis better to use than fallacis? What is the difference between those two beneficials?

Accepted Answer

It depends on where your crop is at, as well as how far along the infestation is.
 
Persimilis will actually travel into webbing to feed on spider mites, so if your infestation is bad, persimilis are a must. If you are having trouble meeting the humidity requirement for persimilis (a constant humidity of at least 60% is required when persimilis are present as their eggs will dry out in anything less), you may want to consider using the ladybugs' relative stethorus. While it is more expensive, they are more hardy and excellent at seeking spider mites. If you can get both, do it. 
 
Fallacis is a great preventative mite, as they feed on more than just spider mites, while persimilis and stethorus will die off without the spider mites present. Fallacis can survive on pollen, and will also feed on bamboo mites, spruce spider mite, and more. If you are worried about a possible spider mite infestation, or are starting a new room, fallacis are a great idea as they will stick around for the life of the crop. They are also great to introduce alongside persimilis and stethorus, and will not compete with them.

Question 4

Do I need to do anything special to my plants to prepare them for the beneficial mites?

Accepted Answer

The most particular mite that we sell is the persimilis; This mite does require a humidity of at least 60% because without it, the eggs will dry out and the second generation of mites will not survive. Fallacis and stethorus are more hardy. 
As a general rule with all our products, you want to be very careful with introducing beneficial bugs if you have any sort of pesticide, soap, or essential oils history. Most (if not all) pesticides are incompatible with our bugs. If you've recently applied a commercial soap or oil product (like Neem Oil), we recommend waiting at least a week before introducing any beneficial bugs.

Question 5

I can’t see any beneficial mites! Am I supposed to be able to see them?

Accepted Answer

The best way to see the mites is: Upon receiving them, pour a small amount of the mite carrier onto a white piece of paper and look for movement with the naked eye or a light magnifier. Another way to see the mites is to open the bottle and look on the rim and paper filter on the lid, where it should be easier to see them. Persimilis are a bit easier to spot on the plant themselves due to their orange-y colour.

Question 6

Do you sell or recommend using Californicus?

Accepted Answer

If you want to try californicus, we can sell it to you. But, as opposed to the products produced by Applied Bio-nomics, these are produced overseas and likely have been refrigerated rather than produced fresh to ship to you. As well, calfornicus will feed on persimilis mites, and therefore is not compatible with our usual recommended spider mite strategy.

Question 7

What is the shelf life of Fallacis and Persimilis?

Accepted Answer

Fallacis is shipped with food in the container, so it can be stored for up to 1 week upon receiving; However, we do recommend releasing it sooner than later. If you are not releasing Fallacis right away, store it 10 degrees celsius. 
 
Persimilis is shipped with no food in the container, so we recommend realesing it right away, once you have recieved your order.

THE BUG LADY

Frequently Asked Questions

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Will ladybugs treat spider mites?

What do you recommend for treating spider mite?

Is persimilis better to use than fallacis? What is the difference between those two beneficials?

Do I need to do anything special to my plants to prepare them for the beneficial mites?

I can’t see any beneficial mites! Am I supposed to be able to see them?

Do you sell or recommend using Californicus?

What is the shelf life of Fallacis and Persimilis?

What pests does Anystis target?

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Are Praying Mantids an Invasive Species?

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What do I do once the eggs start hatching?