IDENTIFY APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES: YOUR ULTIMATE PHOTO GUIDE

CLOSE-UP OF APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES ON SEMPERVIVUM

ESTIMATED READ TIME: 10 MINUTES

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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Wild West Succulents!

Two common pest that can wreak havoc on your Sempervivum plants is aphids and spider mites.

If left untreated, aphids and spider mites can quickly damage your plants.

They feed on plant sap, weakening the plant and causing discolored leaves and stunted growth.

Identifying and addressing aphid and spider mite infestation early can help keep you Sempervivum healthy and beautiful.

In this blog post, I will share photos of my Sempervivum plants with aphids and spider mites to help you identify if your Sempervivum plants have aphids and what you can do to remedy your situation.

Let’s start today!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

AN INFECTED SEMPERVIVUM PLANT
APHIDS
ANTS
DISPOSABLE GLOVES
INSECTICIDAL SOAP
NEEM OIL
LADY BUGS
LACEWIGS
PRAYING MANTIS
RUSHING WATER
BUCKET
SMALL BRUSH
CLOTH OR RAG
DAWN DISH SOAP
SPRAY BOTTLE

WHAT WE’LL COVER

DO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT WILD WEST SUCCULENTS IN A SIMPLE WAY?
INTRODUCTION
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
WHAT WE’LL COVER
6 SIGNS OF APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES
ONE: STICKY RESIDUE ALSO CALLED “HONEYDEW”
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCE ARTICLE:
SOOTY MOLD
TWO: DISTORTED OR CURLED LEAVES
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCE ARTICLE:
PESTS IN GARDEN AND LANDSCAPES
THREE: VISIBLE APHIDS
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON UC IPM-UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE:
HOW TO MANAGE PESTS, PESTS IN GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES
FOUR: YELLOWING LEAVES
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENSION ARTICLE:
APHIDS IN HOME YARDS AND GARDENS
FIVE: PRESENCE OF ANTS
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON MCGILL UNIVERSITY ARTICLE:
FARMER ANTS AND THEIR APHID HERDS
HOW TO MANAGE APHIDS’ INFESTATIONS
STEP ONE: HOW TO REMOVE APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES MANUALLY
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON GARDEN DESIGN ARTICLE:
HOW TO GET RID OF APHIDS NATURALLY
STEP TWO: HOW TO USE INSECTICIDAL SOAP
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON PROMIX GARDENING ARTICLE:
HOW TO USE INSECTICIDAL SOAP
STEP THREE: HOW TO USE NEEM OIL
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON THE SPRUCE ARTICLE:
HOW TO USE NEEM OIL SPRAY AS AN ORGANIC INSECTICIDE
STEP FOUR: HOW TO USE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON LOVE THAT LEAF ARTICLE:
HOW TO USE RUBBING ALCOHOL TO KILL MEALYBUGS, SPIDER MITES, APHIDS, AND SCALE
STEP FIVE: HOW TO USE DAWN DISH SOAP
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON THE NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION
SOAPY WATER TO DEFEAT APHIDS, DISHWASHING SOAP FOR APHIDS
BENEFICIAL INSECTS’ INTRODUCTION TO THE GARDEN
FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON ALMANAC ARTICLE:
BENEFICIAL INSECTS IN THE GARDEN
ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS
CONCLUSION
AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE
JOIN US TODAY!

6 SIGNS OF APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES

CLOSE-UP OF APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES ON SEMPERVIVUM

ONE: STICKY RESIDUE ALSO CALLED “HONEYDEW”

ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF AN APHID INFESTATION IS A STICKY RESIDUE ALSO KNOWN AS ‘HONEYDEW’.
THIS IS SUBSTANCE IS EXCRETED BY APHIDS AS THEY FEED.
THIS ‘HONEYDEW’ ATTRACTS OTHER PESTS SUCH AS ANTS.
ADDITIONALLY, THIS CAN LEAD TO SOOTY MOLD, THAT APPEARS AS A BLACK, SOOTY COATING ON LEAVES.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON UC IPM-UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE:

SOOTY MOLD

CLOSE-UP OF APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES ON SEMPERVIVUM WITH CURLED LEAVES

TWO: DISTORTED OR CURLED LEAVES

APHIDS INJECT SALIVA INTO THE PLANT AS THEY FEED, WHICH CAN CAUSE LEAVES TO BECOME DISTORTED, CURLED OR STUNNED.
LOOK FOR THIS ON NEW GROWTH.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON UC IPM-UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE:

PESTS IN GARDEN AND LANDSCAPES

CLOSE-UP OF APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES ON SEMPERVIVUM

THREE: VISIBLE APHIDS

CHECK THE UNDERSIDES OF LEAVES, ALONG THE STEMS AND AROUND THE BASE OF NEW GROWTH.
USUALLY SMALL, YOU CAN SEE THEM WITH THE NAKED EYE BUT DON’T IGNORE THEIR PRESENCE.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON UC IPM-UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE & NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE:

HOW TO MANAGE PESTS, PESTS IN GARDENS AND LANDSCAPES

FOUR: YELLOWING LEAVES

APHIDS DRAIN THE SAP FROM YOUR SEMPERVIVUM PLANTS LEAVING LEAVES YELLOW.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON IC IPM-UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA EXTENTION ARTICLE:

APHIDS IN HOME YARDS AND GARDENS

CLOSE-UP OF APHIDS ON TOPAZ SEMPERVIVUM

FIVE: PRESENCE OF ANTS

ANTS ARE OFTEN ATTRACTED TO THE ‘HONEYDEW’ PRODUCED BY APHIDS.
THIS ‘HONEYDEW’ IS A SOURCE OF FOOD FOR THE ANTS.
IF YOU NOTICE ANTS ON YOUR SEMPERVIVUM PLANTS, YOU PROBABLY HAVE APHIDS.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON MCGILL UNIVERSITY ARTICLE:

FARMER ANTS AND THEIR APHID HERDS

CLOSE-UP OF APHIDS ON SEMPERVIVUM

HOW TO MANAGE APHID AND SPIDER MITE INFESTATIONS

STEP ONE: HOW TO REMOVE APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES BY HAND

TO REMOVE APHIDS MANUALLY, PUT ON DISPOSABLE GLOVES AND REMOVE THE APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES BY HAND INTO A SOAP BUCKET.
YOU CAN ALSO USE A SMALL SOFT BRUSH OR A DAMP CLOTH AND A STEAM OF WATER TO REMOVE OF THE APHIDS.
MAKE SURE THAT YOU DISPOSE OF YOUR SOAPY WATER AND DISPOSABLE GLOVES CAREFULLY.
WASH YOUR SMALL BRUSH AND DAMP CLOTH UNDER A STEAM OF WATER.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON GARDEN DESIGN:

HOW TO GET RID OF APHIDS NATURALLY

STEP TWO: HOW TO USE INSECTICIDAL SOAP

INSECTICIDAL SOAPS ARE EFFECTIVE AND ECO-FRIENDLY WAY TO MANAGE APHIDS.
MAKE SURE TO SPRAY UNDER THE LEAVES WHERE THE APHIDS HIDE.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON PROMIX GARDENING ARTICLE:

HOW TO USE INSECTICIDAL SOAP

STEP THREE: HOW TO USE NEEM OIL

NEEM OIL IS A NATURAL PESTICIDE THAT CAN HELP CONTROL PEST POPULATIONS.
NEEM OIL WORKS BY DISRUPTING THE LIFE CYCLE OF THE PESTS AND CAN HELP PREVENT FUTURE INFESTATIONS.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON THE SPRUCE ARTICLE:

HOW TO USE NEEM OIL SPRAY AS AN ORGANIC INSECTICIDE

STEP FOUR: HOW TO USE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL IS ALSO A GREAT SOURCE FOR REMOVING APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES.
ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL CAN APPLIED DIRECTLY TO THE APHIDS OR SPIDER MITES WITH A COTTON SWAB OR A DILUTED 50% SOLUTION SPRAY.
WHEN THIS IS DONE, THE SOFT BODIES OF THE PESTS MELT THEIR PROTECTIVE WAX COATING KILLING THEM.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON FROM LOVE THAT LEAF ARTICLE:

HOW TO USE RUBBING ALCOHOL TO KILL MEALYBUGS, SPIDER MITES, APHIDS, AND SCALE

STEP FIVE: HOW TO USE DAWN DISH SOAP

I PERSONALLY LOVE USING DAWN DISH SOAP TO KILL PESTS.
I PUT DAWN DISH SOAP INTO A CONDIMENT SQUEEZE BOTTLE.
WHEN I SEE A PEST, I DRIP A DOT OF DAWN DISH SOAP DIRECTLLY ON THE PEST COVERING THE ENTIRE PEST AND THIS KILLS THEM.
IF A PLANT IS IN A POT, I REMOVE THE SEMPERVIVUM PLANT COMPLETELY AND DISPOSE OF THE SOIL IN THE TRASH.
THEN I SET THE SEMPERVIVUM OR OTHER SUCCULENT DOTTED WITH DAWN DISH SOAP ASIDE FOR AWHILE.
THEN TO RINSE, I PLACE THE ENTIRE PLANT UNDER THE TAP WITH RAPID RUNNING WATER.
AFTER WASHING THE PLANT, I CHECK THE ENTIRE PLANT FOR ANY PESTS THAT HAVE BEEN EMBEDED IN THE SEMPERVIVUM CENTER CORE OR NEAR THE BASE OF THE PAINT.
IF MORE PESTS ARE FOUND, REPEAT THE PROCES UNTIL THE ENTIRE PLANT IS CLEAN OF ANY PESTS.
CHECK THE PLANT AGAIN TO MAKE SURE NO OTHER PESTS ARE PRESENT AND THEN SET TO DRY FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS PRIOR TO REPOTTING.
IF KEEPING THE POT THAT WAS INFECTED WITH APHIDS AND OR SPIDER MITES, CLEAN AND DISINFECT WITH 50% WATER TO 50% ALCOHOL SPRAY MIXTURE.
SET ASIDE TO DRY BEFORE REPLACING NEW SOIL AND CLEANED SEMPERVIVUM PLANT BACK IN THE POT.
IF SUNNY OUTSIDE, PLACE POT IN THE SUN BEFORE PLANTING PROCESS SHARED ABOVE.
CHECK YOUR SUCCULENT FOR ANY RE-EXPOSURE OF PEST FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.
IF APHIDS OR SPIDER MITES RETURN, DO THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN TO KILL THE PESTS.
ALSO USE THIS SPRAY MIXTURE TO KILL ANY APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES IN THE AREA THAT THE POT HAD BEEN SITTING IN OR NEAR.
MEANING, IF THE POT WAS ON THE DECK, SPRAY THE DECK TO KILL ANY PESTS THAT MIGHT BE AROUND THE PLANT.
WIPE AREA AND SPRAY AGAIN WITH MIXTURE AND LET AIR DRY COMPLETELY BEFORE USING THIS LOCATION.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON THE NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION:

SOAPY WATER TO DEFEAT APHIDS, DISHWASHING SOAP FOR APHIDS

CLOSE-UP OF APHIDS ON SEMPERVIVUM

BENEFICIAL INSECTS INTRODUCTION TO THE GARDEN

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO INTRODUCE NEEM OIL, INSECTICIDAL SOAP, OR DAWN DISH SOAP TO YOUR GARDEN, YOU CAN USE BENEFICIAL INSECTS TO NATURALLY EAT THE APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES.

HERE IS A LIST OF BENEFICIAL INSECTS

LADYBUGS, LACEWINGS, (AND MY FAVORITE) PRAYING MANTIS ARE ALL NATURAL PREDATORS OF APHIDS.
THEY CAN BE PURCHASED AND RELEASED BY AFFECTED PLANTS.

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON ALMANAC ARTICLE:

BENEFICIAL INSECTS IN THE GARDEN

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS

BEFORE PURCHASING A PLANT, EXAMINE IT CAREFULLY TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT BRINGING APHIDS AND OR SPIDER MITES INTO YOUR GARDEN SPACE.
QUARANTINE YOUR PLANTS AFTER YOU PURCHASE THEM FOR PERIOD OF 1 WEEK
IF INFECTED PLANT FOUND AT GARDEN CENTER OR NURSERY, NOTIFY STAFF
IF YOU TOUCHED AN INFECTED PLANT, WASH YOUR HANDS IMMEDIATELY
WHEN YOU RETURN HOME, WASH YOUR CLOTHING IMMEDIATELY AND SHOWER
IF PEST APPEAR DURING QUARANTINE, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE PEST INFESTATION WITHOUT CONTAMINATING YOUR ENTIRE GARDEN SPACE
ALWAYS WEAR DISPOSABLE GLOVES IN YOUR GARDEN WHEN HANDLING NEWLY INTRODUCED PLANTS
WASH GARDEN CLOTHING IMMEDIATELY IN HOT WATER TO KILL ANY PEST THAT MAY HAVE ATTACHED TO YOUR CLOTHING
SHOWER IMMEDIATELY TO REMOVE ANY PESTS THAT MAY HAVE ATTACHED TO YOUR HAIR OR SKIN
MONITOR PROCESS ON A DAILY BASES UNTIL PEST HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY KILLED
KEEP ROSES AND FRUIT TREES AWAY FROM CONTAMINATED PLANTS AS THEY ARE EXTREMELY SUSCEPTIBLE TO BOTH APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES

CONCLUSION

Routine consistent monitoring and appropriate treatments are essential for keeping infestations under control.

By regularly inspecting your plants and taking steps to manage Aphid and Spider mite infestations, you’ll ensure your Sempervivum remain healthy and vibrant.

Happy Gardening!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

Wild West Succulents participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, as well as affiliate programs with AWIN and Sovrn Holdings, Inc. These programs allow us to earn fees by linking to partner sites. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

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INTRODUCTION

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

WHAT WE’LL COVER

6 SIGNS OF APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES

ONE: STICKY RESIDUE ALSO CALLED “HONEYDEW”

TWO: DISTORTED OR CURLED LEAVES

THREE: VISIBLE APHIDS

FOUR: YELLOWING LEAVES

FIVE: PRESENCE OF ANTS

HOW TO MANAGE APHID AND SPIDER MITE INFESTATIONS

STEP ONE: HOW TO REMOVE APHIDS AND SPIDER MITES BY HAND

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON GARDEN DESIGN:

STEP TWO: HOW TO USE INSECTICIDAL SOAP

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON PROMIX GARDENING ARTICLE:

STEP THREE: HOW TO USE NEEM OIL

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON THE SPRUCE ARTICLE:

STEP FOUR: HOW TO USE ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON FROM LOVE THAT LEAF ARTICLE:

STEP FIVE: HOW TO USE DAWN DISH SOAP

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON THE NATIONAL GARDENING ASSOCIATION:

SOAPY WATER TO DEFEAT APHIDS, DISHWASHING SOAP FOR APHIDS

BENEFICIAL INSECTS INTRODUCTION TO THE GARDEN

HERE IS A LIST OF BENEFICIAL INSECTS

FOR INFORMATION FOUND ON ALMANAC ARTICLE:

ADDITIONAL HELPFUL HINTS

CONCLUSION

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE

JOIN US TODAY!

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