Young Maple Spider Mites: Targeted Treatment, Not Yard-Wide

Huge yard full of spider mite webs; young maples (planted 2008) dying. Owner fears poisoning neighbor's dog/kids if spraying whole yard.

Clarification

Spider mites on trees ≠ web-making spiders in grass. Treat ONLY tree foliage, not yard.

Pierce cells → yellow/white speckles → bronzing → premature drop. Heavy infestation = webbing, dust collection.

Must use MITICIDE (not regular insecticide).
Spray BOTH leaf surfaces thoroughly.
Products: Dicofol (Kelthane—hard to find), acephate (Orthene), dimethoate (Cygon), chlorpyrifos (Dursban), diazinon, disulfoton (Di-syston), malathion (weak miticides).
Check local nursery.

Web-making spiders in grass are beneficial (eat pests). Don't spray them.

Trees: Hypoxylon Canker and Root Stress Killing Mature Trees in Wet Soil; Managing Japanese Beetles and Spider Mites Organically; Pomegranate Tree Webs and Bud Drop: Spider Mites or Normal Pollination?; Controlling Spider Mites on Roses; Protecting Young Maples from Late Frost; Spider Mite Damage on Japanese Maple; Maple Tree Galls and Aphids: Identification and Systemic Treatment; Carpenter Ants in Trees: When to Worry and How to Control Them; Sycamore and Silver Maple Decline in Georgia Drought: Wait for Spring; Using Roundup Near Young Trees Safely

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