Spider Mites on Roses

Identification

• Spider mites are tiny spider-like pests that are nearly invisible to the naked eye and live in colonies under the surfaces of rose leaves, often looking like dust. An individual spider mite would be approximately the size of a period in a sentence.

Damage

• The mites feed off of the cellular matter of the leaves, which causes the leaves to turn yellow and drop off.

Conditions Favorable To Spider Mites

• Spider mites flourish in hot, arid weather with little water and airflow around plants. Mites are drawn to miniature rose bushes and roses planted close together.

Protection

• Removal of weeds and fallen leaves and branches from the area around the roses as well as ensuring adequate circulation and watering of the plants helps protect against spider mites. The entire plant should be washed down with water to knock off the mites. Once knocked down, they cannot climb back up.

Chemical Protection

• Broad-spectrum insecticides and miticides are also available.