Need help identifying my potential pest problem outdoors!!!

MrBoard · Aug 22, 2014

Hello,
I noticed a couple plants in the middle of my garden with what looks like it could be spider mites. I was wondering if anyone could tell me for sure if it is or is not spider mites or any other insight... thanks... here is a couple pictures of leaves.

MrBoard · Aug 22, 2014

the main thing i notice first is the little black dots... it almost looks like tiny insect poop or something... i as thinking of going and getting a whole bunch of ladybugs potentially... but I could use some advice to see if thats gonna help me out

Choo · Aug 22, 2014

I would really like to see the underside of the leaf.

MrBoard · Aug 22, 2014

Choo said:
I would really like to see the underside of the leaf.

I disposed of the leaves i took a picture of initially... and I have clipped and removed alot of the other leaves showing damage... but I went and found another one... I made sure to take a picture of both sides of the leaf... here they are:

MrBoard · Aug 22, 2014

there are no webs as of right now... and there were only 2 plants i noticed it on in the midst of 40 or so... but i found a couple leaves on a third as well... hardly any... but a few...

Po boy · Aug 22, 2014

looks like thrips damage

mwooten102 · Aug 22, 2014

If it was me, if spray for mites.

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mwooten102 · Aug 22, 2014

If the black dots are stuck to leaves I'd say fly shit. If they're little balls it's probably caterpillars.

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mrgreengrower · Aug 22, 2014

do you have a mirco scoop look at the back side of the leaf see if you see anything crawling around might be mites

Miko2 · Aug 22, 2014

sand storm ?

Choo · Aug 22, 2014

I was thinking mites also, that's why I wanted to see the underside. It's inconclusive in the picture. There could be something there but I just can't tell for sure.

MrBoard · Aug 22, 2014

I saw some bugs on one leaf initially when i first noticed the damage... but i couldnt tell you 100% what they were and havent seen any since... I will go check all the undersides of the leaves... but for the most part i have only seen stuff on the upper part of the leaf... i saw some tiny little black bugs on one leaf of a neighbor plant... but there was no damage on the leaf...

Do you guys think it would be a bad idea to get some ladybugs as a precaution... they are the most accessible live insects I could get right now... anything else pretty much... I'd have to order and wait till sometime next week to get...

MrBoard · Aug 22, 2014

OK... so i put some gloves on and went back in to look for bugs under the leaves... and found some... I tried to take as best a picture as I could with my phone... I'll see if I can get a better picture if you guys can't tell still... really seems like mites to me now...

MrBoard · Aug 22, 2014

OK... so i put some gloves on and went back in to look for bugs under the leaves... and found some... I tried to take as best a picture as I could with my phone... I'll see if I can get a better picture if you guys can't tell still... really seems like mites to me now...View attachment 3235720 View attachment 3235720

MrBoard · Aug 23, 2014

So...I am thinking of going and getting 10,000 predatory mites today... Do you guys think it is spider mites for sure? Since they are tiny little orangish red looking bugs in the picture??? And they are on the underside of the leaf

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UNICRONLIVES · Aug 23, 2014

ladies bugs and praying mantis...I never start a garden w/o them..pics dont come in clear enough to give a definite answer..either way they are a menace to your plants and need erradicated!!

Choo · Aug 23, 2014

You can try Neem oil, it's organic and it repels the mites.

MrBoard · Aug 23, 2014

OK... I got some moreso closeup shots of an adult bug... they are a little blurry... so i'll post another one if i can get a better shot... but maybe someone could tell from looking at these: