TARGET PEST: Two-Spotted Spider Mite.

DESCRIPTION: Phytoseiulus Persimilis is a tropical Predatory Mite. Adults are bright reddish orange, with long legs and pear-shaped bodies, 0.5 mm long. Unlike its prey, Persimilis do not spin webbing. Phytoseiulus Persimilis is a predatory might that is similar in size to the two spotted spider might but does not have the black spots and is orange in color. Persimilis will consume around 5-10 pest adults or up to 20 pest eggs per day. The Persimilis is a very active predatory might and the only time it stops is to feed upon a spider mite. The Persimilis will tolerate hot temperatures reaching as high as 95 degrees, as long as the humidity is between 60% and 90%. The main difference body feature of the Persimilis and Spider Mites is the Persimilis has a mouth that extends in front of their body while the Spider Mites mouth extends downwards. The Persimilis has the same life cycle stages as the Longpipes and the Californicus mentioned further up the page.
LIFE CYCLE: eggs, larvae, protonymph, deutonymph and adults. Persimilis survive very well in either greenhouses or outside applications.
A Natural Way to Control Spider Mites! Due to a high demand, listening to our customers and research, we have developed a mixture of 3 Predatory Mites called “Mite Predator Blend”, normally consisting of an assortment of the following; M. longipes, N. californicus and P. persimilis. Special Blend is best used in unknown growing conditions. Our Special Blend takes the guess work out of which mite should be used in your Garden, Green House, or Grow Room. It has been proven to be very effective. You will see a mixture of bright reddish orange, colored mites with obvious long legs. These mites can tolerate temperatures up to 95°F., but do best in temperatures between 60° -85° F. They do well in humidities ranging from 50%-90%. To raise the humidity level you can lightly mist the plants or surrounding walkways.
Persimilis is most effective when applied at the first sign of a two-spotted mite infestation. Because of its high reproduction rate, persimilis usually exhausts its food supply and eventually dies out. Therefore, repeated introductions are recommended until all sites with spider mite infestations have persimilis present.
Vacuuming the plants to remove adult mites is effective. Spraying them with just water and bathing the leaves while pulling as many adults and eggs off to help bring in the predatory mites also helps. Use bean plants for an attractant and then throwing them out and reintroducing new trap plants continuously.
Persimilis is most effective when applied during the first sign of a two-spotted mite infestation. Because of its high reproduction rate, persimilis usually exhausts its food supply and eventually dies out. Repeated releases are recommended until all sites with spider mite infestations have been dominated with persimilis.
FOR BEST RESULTS Vacuum the plants to remove adult mites. Spray plangs with water and bathe the leaves while pulling as many adults and eggs off help bring in the predatory mites. Use trap plants as an attractant, then throw them out to bring in new trap plants continuously.
Persimilis needs 60% humidity or more to survive (especially in the egg stage). If humidity is low, raise it by lightly misting plants. Stethorus punctillum can be combined with persimilis. Stethorus feeds on all stages of spider mite and is effective at detecting individual mite colonies. If average temperatures are often below or above the 68-81°F range for optimum use of Persimilis, introduce Amblyseius fallacis along with persimilis.
Persimilis should be applied the same day they are received as the quality of the product drops with storage.
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