Please help me identify

mprasek · July 27, 2012

This condition wiped out my Better Boy in about 2 days. I noticed some yellowing lower down on Wednesday morning, Thursday evening it was about 30% of one side lower down, and this morning (Friday) it was about 70% of the lower 3/4s of the plant. I cut down and bagged the plant this morning, and selectively removed the leaves and stems on the Early Girl next to it that was affected.

There was no "ringing" in the stems that I cut, they looked green and healthy and moist.
The stems of the severely damaged branches were collapsed and brown, but again, still no rings.

Gave the Girl a hit of liquid Sevin, and fish fertilizer near the roots ( it probably was time for both of these, anyway, but did not wait until the evening, like I usually do.)

I am in Houston, we had lots of rain in the last two weeks, and none to speak of since Friday last week. There has been a little more dew on some mornings, but I was not tracking it.

Can someone help identify it please?

Thanks in advance.
Mike

b54red · July 27, 2012

May be spider mites. Their populations can explode on a plant and kill it in no time. They just suck the life out of a plant if given a little time. From what little I could tell from the pics it looks just like what happened to a couple of my plants about a month ago and they were infested heavily with spider mites.

augiedog55 · July 27, 2012

spider mites

sfulwood · July 30, 2012

how do you treat or manage it?

July 30, 2012

Neem oil is the best thing I have found for Spider mites-

Heritage · July 30, 2012

From this article on spider mites - http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html

"... spider mites exposed to carbaryl (Sevin) in the laboratory have been shown to reproduce faster than untreated populations."

The article has the best, concise info on mites and their control that I've found.

Good luck with your battle.
Steve

ginger2778 · July 30, 2012

The millions of tiny yelow spots is veryconsistent with spider mites. Neem the HE-- out of them!

mprasek · August 5, 2012

Thanks, all!

After it was suggested that it was spider mites, and after doing a little research, I figured out how to see the buggers.

Used Neem oil, and that has brought them under control. But the plant may be too far gone, but am hanging on to it to see if the tomatoes on it will develop/

Fall planting next weekend.

Thanks again,
Mike

July 27, 2012	#2
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	May be spider mites. Their populations can explode on a plant and kill it in no time. They just suck the life out of a plant if given a little time. From what little I could tell from the pics it looks just like what happened to a couple of my plants about a month ago and they were infested heavily with spider mites.

July 27, 2012	#3
augiedog55 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: oak grove mo Posts: 406	spider mites

July 30, 2012	#4
sfulwood Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: eastview, tn Posts: 28	how do you treat or manage it?

July 30, 2012	#5
JoParrott Guest Posts: n/a	Neem oil is the best thing I have found for Spider mites-

July 30, 2012	#6
Heritage Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: San Diego Posts: 1,255	From this article on spider mites - http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html "... spider mites exposed to carbaryl (Sevin) in the laboratory have been shown to reproduce faster than untreated populations." The article has the best, concise info on mites and their control that I've found. Good luck with your battle. Steve

July 30, 2012	#7
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	The millions of tiny yelow spots is veryconsistent with spider mites. Neem the HE-- out of them!

August 5, 2012	#8
mprasek Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 5	Thanks, all! After it was suggested that it was spider mites, and after doing a little research, I figured out how to see the buggers. Used Neem oil, and that has brought them under control. But the plant may be too far gone, but am hanging on to it to see if the tomatoes on it will develop/ Fall planting next weekend. Thanks again, Mike