Why does the web appear on cucumbers, how to deal with it?

When growing cucumbers, the main threat to the crop is pests and vegetable diseases. These problems are especially relevant in greenhouses, where it is necessary to maintain optimal indicators of humidity and temperature. The appeared web on cucumbers signals infection with a dangerous pest, drinking juice from the leaves of the plant. This is a spider mite that can cause significant damage to the crop.

Spider mite - basic information

The tick belongs to a variety of phytophages - pests that feed exclusively on plant foods. Small individuals 0.3-0.6 mm in size are poorly distinguishable on the leaves. Their rounded body is covered with bristles, arachnids move with the help of 4 pairs of legs. Females are slightly larger than males, they are extremely prolific, laying several hundred eggs at a time.

The color of ticks depends on the stage of development - the larvae are transparent, greenish in color with dark spots on the sides. Females overwintered in the ground are orange and red. Pests live in colonies; it takes up to 3 weeks to develop one generation. They go through several stages of growth:

• egg;
• larva;
• nymph;
• adult individual.

Attention. For the reproduction and development of the spider mite, a high temperature is required. During heat up to 30⁰ eggs ripen in 3 days, at 15⁰ - 2 weeks.

During the winter, the phytophage creeps into the soil and various cracks. With a cold snap, a decrease in daylight hours and a lack of food, it falls into suspended animation.

Signs of a Pest

At all mobile stages of development, ticks feed on plant sap. The web on cucumbers in the greenhouse and white spots are manifestations from the presence. The leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow and curl due to a lack of photosynthesis. The general weakening of the vegetable crop makes it defenseless against infections.
The pest is not picky in food, it settles on cucumber seedlings and adult plants.

The consequences of the activity of the phytophage:

• the formation of white dots and spots in places of biting leaves;
• vegetable growth slowdown;
• Tokaya web on the leaves and stems of cucumbers.

Tip. When there are warning signs, take a look at the plant. An overgrown arachnid colony looks like a total stirring mass of hundreds of small individuals. People should not be afraid of unpleasant pests, for them the tick is safe. But the crop, especially on closed ground, is on the verge of destruction.

Factors contributing to the spread of spider mites

From the moment it appears in the greenhouse, the pest is in favorable conditions, therefore it actively captures the territory. Basic requirements for their development:

• heat;
• moderate humidity.

Such conditions are often created in the greenhouse. This leads to a lack of ventilation and watering. The pest can get inside the structure with contaminated soil, a gust of wind, and remain in the gap for the winter.At high temperatures, the process of reproduction and growth is so rapid that in 10-12 days all the bushes of the cucumbers are affected by the pest.

To prevent the negative consequences of the spread of the phytophage, it is recommended to regularly inspect the plants. At the first sign of a tick, mechanically remove infected leaves and burn them. Next, proceed to the processing of vegetable culture in one of the selected ways: folk remedies or chemical preparations.

Pest Management Methods

A dangerous enemy will take advantage of every minute of delay, so it is better to immediately begin to destroy the phytophage.

Folk remedies

Farmers have long struggled with numerous pests, so in their arsenal there are effective recipes for all occasions.

1. Soap solution. A bar of laundry soap is dissolved in 10 liters of warm water. For speedy dilution, the soap is pre-rubbed. Each leaf is abundantly moistened with the resulting composition, washing off the pest along with the patina. Abundant watering will wash off the foam. It will not harm cucumbers, and mites excess moisture paralyze.
2. Infusion of onion husks. If the cucumbers on the web and turn yellow, the processing of onion husk infusion will help. To prepare it, you will need 2 cups of dry ingredient and 2 liters of boiling water. The composition is insisted in a closed container for 2 days, then filtered. The concentrated product before spraying vegetables is diluted with water 1: 2.
3. Infusion of garlic. You will need to peel and grate 100-150 g of garlic. The mass is filled with 0.5 l of hot water and infused for 12 hours. The garlic product is saturated, before processing it is diluted with water 1: 2.
4. Marigolds will help scare away the spider mite on cucumbers. You need to collect half a bucket of flowers and fill them with 20 liters of warm water. After 2 days, the composition is ready for use.

Biological methods

Natural enemies of the spider mite become reliable allies in the fight against the pest. These helpers include a ladybug. This small predator eats various types of harmful insects. Attract a ladybug of dill inflorescences.

A more serious enemy of the spider mite is the predatory mite, phytoseyulus. He actively eats pests that make up the main diet. After the destruction of the phytophage, the predator dies due to lack of food. The population of phytoseyulyus is carried out directly on the affected bush.

Chemicals

If after processing with folk remedies cucumbers are still on the web, how to deal with this scourge? It is worth moving on to more effective methods. When buying pesticides, we take into account that they do not belong to insects. To destroy arachnids, acaricides and insect acaricides are needed.

Among the popular formulations that have proven their effectiveness, it is worth noting:

• Karbofos - an organophosphorus insecticide with the active substance malathion. It is dissolved in water to treat the area from ticks, scutes and other pests. The solution is prepared immediately before use. Spraying is carried out in calm, calm weather. The first signs of exposure appear after 4 hours. The protective effect of the drug will last up to two weeks. Before spraying it is recommended to wear a respirator and protective clothing.
• Actellik is an organophosphorus drug with a contact action aimed at eradicating sucking pests. The death of ticks occurs depending on weather conditions in a few minutes or hours. After processing, vegetables are protected from attacks for 2-3 weeks in the field and up to 14 days in the greenhouse.
• Plant-Pin - sticks from ticks that are buried in the ground near each bush. During irrigation, water activates special substances created to destroy pests. With a small infection, if the cucumbers are not completely covered with cobwebs, getting rid of ticks is 100%.
• Fitoverm - the drug effectively copes with the phytophage, while it is characterized by low toxicity.

Attention.Processing of cucumbers is carried out in the evening. In preventive treatment, spraying occurs once every 2 weeks, the process of extermination of pests requires weekly treatment.

Preventative measures

In order not to require a struggle to save the crop of cucumbers, it is necessary to follow certain measures to prevent the appearance of pests:

1. In the fall, after harvesting, it is necessary to tear out and destroy all the tops and weeds. You can not leave plants for the winter in the greenhouse - these are places where the tick moths winter.
2. If the topsoil is infected, it must be removed and replaced with a new one. An alternative way to destroy the pest hidden in the soil, to treat the earth with a 2% solution of bleach.
3. To prevent a spider mite from appearing on cucumbers in the spring, disinfect the greenhouse with smoke bombs. One of the effective methods of getting rid of a pest wintering in cracks is to freeze the structure at low temperature.
4. Compliance with the optimal humidity regime (80-85%) and temperature, frequent ventilation of the greenhouse will create unfavorable conditions for pests.

Spider mites pose a real threat to the harvest of cucumbers. Having discovered the pest in the garden or in the greenhouse, it is necessary to immediately begin comprehensive actions to destroy it. Despite the wide range of effective drugs, prevention remains the best remedy.