Holly Spider Mites: Identification and Miticide Selection

Diagnosis

Thick webs + dead leaves in webs + blackening branches = spider mites. "Seeds" = eggs. Mites suck cell contents → stippling → bronzing → leaf drop.

Miticide Options (Homeowner)

Best Practice

• Horticultural oil (summer): Suffocates all stages. Thorough coverage. Repeat 2× at 7–10 days.
• Insecticidal soap: Contact kill; repeat frequently.
• Predatory mites (Phytoseiulus): Biological; release per instructions.

Critical

Spray both leaf sides. Mites live on undersides. "Mite suppression" labels = weak. Need true miticide.

Oil + soap rotation + predatory mites = sustainable management. Avoid broad-spectrum insecticides that kill predators.