Howdy CC
I can not answer all your questions in detail about two-spotted mites, as I do not know your situation or standard procedure.
However, I offer this information. As in bacteria reproduction: natural selection has poised genes to hopefully allow some offspring to survive a harsher condition (like one particular organic remedy, as you have found out). This is natural. Yes some of the mites and offspring will express an enhanced resistance to any pesticide, natural or artifically manufactured.
Here is my suggestion> Make sure the mites are all dead when you make the switch to caliclean treatment, ensuring no survivors to reproduce. That is the answer in a nutshell. It is good you switch it up, I do that myself with a few organic washes periodocally.
If I understand your last Question...No. Once upon a time some spiders learned to eat plant sugars and chlorophyll for food, instead of other bugs. These little spiders are mites. Mites suck leaf cellular fluids and cytoplasm. If you burn them with pepper spray they die like a human would be if dunked in acid. Once the leaf is coated, for the mites its like sucking on a redhot poker, burning their mouth off. The either burn right away and shrivel, or starve - as you have destroyed their ability to feed.
Plus, a day later its as if you never sprayed a drop, and nothing remains but a few dead mite carcasses, and some unhatched eggs. Your herb is sweet and unmolested.
That's how it works.
Feel free to drop notes from time to time and best of luck with your good garden brother!
Thank you for your inquest and feedback!
Peace be with you
calibuzz
Two spotters are far more resilient than other mites and have been plaguing cannabis for ages, all eggs coated absorb the insecticide used and somehow when they hatch the same insecticide doesn't affect the survivors. Your information definitely describes what is happening!
As far as my last question, you basically answered it.
"
Once the leaf is coated, for the mites its like sucking on a redhot poker, burning their mouth off. They either burn right away and shrivel, or starve as you have destroyed their ability to feed."
Eliminating the ability to feed not the food source
I should have worded it differently, my bad ^_^
I like the fact that your spray doesn't linger and breaks down over time. Many oils that i have used affect the taste and smell of the bud negatively which is why i don't spray my buds at all in flower.
I have been using ladybugs in flower but they don't do a damn thing against these bastards! I'm trying mantis at the moment but it looks like the egg pods i purchased were dead so i'm gonna get more and try hatching them in a controlled environment then release them. So lately i have been keeping my plants alive just up to harvest by hand killing mites which is a daily task, and washing them plain water when the mites form webbing.
My veg and clone rooms are under control with my current application techniques but i have been looking for a good flower remedy that i can spray in case my natural predators aren't doing their job.
i really hope your spray works but ill let you know for sure in a week or so and ill include a smoke report on the taste/smell when ready. I have been harvesting this strain for a year every week so i know when the taste is affected or not.
Keep up the good work man!
knowledge is power
what are your degrees in if you don't mind me asking? I'm currently going for my AS in biology to one day get my masters or phD in Molecular Biology
I'm only 19 though so I've got a long way to go :]
-CC