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mites?

I don't have a camera that can take a picture of something that small. I just have a picture of the leaf. These critters are building some sort of web like structure around my leaves. The leaves look like they are being drained of all life. They were a very nice dark green and now they are turning yellow. I don't think it has anything to do with ferts, I give all my trees the same thing and this the only one like this. I will try to give it some iron to help when i get some. 

Do mites even build web like structures? 

Is there anything to spray on the leaves that won't kill them? I placed the plant somewhere it won't spread to the others. 

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I was wondering about spider mites. I was in the yard early this morning and notice a stupid web in every fig and blueberry bush in the yard!
I just got in from spraying Neem and was getting ready to post about it, because I don't know if it will help but I've used it with success on other things. It sure can't hurt!

Thank you Sophie. I will try that. 

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  • Tam

Thanks for sharing.

Best,
Tam

Just curious, did you try the Neem and did it work for you? Mine seem to be doing great. Narry a web to be found!

Spider mites do build webs (small tight ones that are close to the leaves, not big sprawling webs).  That leaf picture looks consistent with spider mites.  It also looks very dry.  (Is the tree indoors?).  (Spider mites also go after trees that are in a dry locale... e.g. indoors or close to a source of dry air.  They also hasten the "drying out" of the leaves by taking fluids from the leaves).  I've used Neem Oil successfully on getting rid of spider mites, but insecticidal soap does fine too and I found that to be very effective.  But usually you lose any leaf that's as affected as that one (they dry out and fall off).  Of course, it's the end of the season anyway, so maybe that doesn't matter to you.  (But if indoors or you have an outlook for warmth, you could get new leaves).  It's worth treating to get rid of spider mites anyway, because they'll spread to other trees.  I'd recommend insecticidal soap (or even diluted dish detergent if that's what you've got on hand... spray it on in very low dilution, and then after a few hours or a half day spray with plain water.  Repeat every couple of days for a week).  Good luck.

Mike   central NY state, zone 5a

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