Let's face it: although Lewis mites (Eotetranychus lewisi) used to be more of a cyclical pest, this mite has been consistently bad in poinsettia the last few years. As regular Lewis mite infestations now seem to be the new normal in poinsettia, this week is the time to start thinking about your pest control plan for Lewis mite.
As we don't see Lewis mites in other crops (except, perhaps, greenhouse strawberry) in Ontario, our Lewis mite problems are most likely coming from the producers, i.e. your cuttings. Research from the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre has shown that cutting dips can be highly effective for two-spotted spider mite as well as pests like Bemisia whitefly and thrips that arrive on propagative material. Given spider mites and Lewis mites are related, it stands to reason that dips might do Lewis mites good as well.
Traditionally, we have used cutting dips that are a combination of soap and BotaniGard for Bemisia whitefly control in poinsettia. This is because it is highly effective, and also the safest choice in terms of phytotoxicity for growers who are concerned about that. Unfortunately, soap and BotaniGard seem to have little effect on spider mites.
Read more at: ONfloriculture
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