I'm used to it. It's incredibly satisfying to shake out that vermiculite, and watch the tiny, angry, red monsters scour the soil and plant in hunt of their webslinging prey.
I agree.... The wife and I use our fingers and paper towels also when we have gotten them before... Ive found it can take multiple angles of attack to get some strains of those little buggers...
pop22 vanquished spider mites with diatomaceous earth, in thread about trying for a lb with and au. I've notice nighttime tuck up, i think when plants are borderline over watered, nothing of concern, my takeUnfortunately the spidermites have made another appearance in the veg room. Predatory mites are in bound. Going to pick up some nematodes when I go to town next, as well, as a precautionary measure. I often use a magnifying glass to make observations of my specimen so I'm catching them early again. They usually show up in spring/summer, by late fall I'll have them eradicated again. The greenhouse appears to be pest free still, thankfully.
Another observation: The specimen in the greenhouse relax their leaves at night, folding up almost like a sensitive plant or a starfruit tree will. I was worried it was a wilt at first but over the last couple weeks they've consistently tucked in at night and perked right back up in the morning. I've never seen a photo do this before. Thought I'd share.
I've released the predatory mites. I have a big tub of DE and the little puffer gun but I only use it as a last ditch effort. I had considered watering a little less, but it's been pretty hot in there lately so I was afraid of a dryout.
