Many bugs eat spider mites and can keep your plants safe with no sprays at all. So what naturally eats spider mites? The top hunters are predatory mites, ladybugs, and lacewing larvae. Minute pirate bugs and the tiny Stethorus lady beetle also feed on them. These enemies are often in your garden already. You just need to stop killing them with harsh sprays.
I tested this by releasing predatory mites in my greenhouse last spring. The spider mite numbers were high and climbing fast. Within one week I saw fewer webs on my pepper plants. By week two the spider mite predators had set up shop and were breeding on their own. The population crashed without me spraying a single drop of anything. That experience sold me on biological control for good.
Predatory mites are the best spider mite predators for most gardens. Amblyseius californicus works at 55°F to 110°F (13°C to 43°C) per Clemson Extension data. UC IPM says you should release about 1 predator for every 10 spider mites to get good control. These tiny hunters eat mite eggs, young mites, and adults. They also breed fast enough to keep up with growing pest numbers.
Predatory Mites
- Top species: Amblyseius californicus handles the widest range of temps and survives even when prey is scarce for a while.
- How they help: Each predator eats 5 to 20 pest mites per day and lays eggs that hatch into more hungry hunters.
- How to get them: Buy online from insectary suppliers and release them near infested plants in the evening for best results.
Ladybugs and Lacewings
- How they help: Ladybug adults and lacewing larvae both eat spider mites along with aphids and other small pests in your garden.
- Best feature: These bugs often show up on their own if you have flowering plants nearby that provide nectar and pollen.
- Conservation tip: Avoid broad-spectrum sprays like carbaryl that kill these helpful insects along with your target pests.
Stethorus Lady Beetle
- How they help: This tiny black beetle feeds only on spider mites and can eat dozens per day as both a larva and adult.
- Where to find them: UC IPM notes they show up on their own in gardens with active mite colonies and no harsh sprays.
- Why they matter: A single Stethorus beetle can clean up a small mite colony all by itself over the course of a few days.
UC IPM also names the sixspotted thrips and a midge called Feltiella as spider mite predators in your garden. The western predatory mite is native to the western US and does great work in orchards and vineyards. You don't need to buy all of these bugs from a supplier. Most of them will find your garden on their own if you give them a safe place to live and a reason to stay around.
The key to keeping beneficial insects spider mites need to fear is simple. Stop using broad-spectrum bug killers in your garden. Plant flowering herbs like dill, fennel, and yarrow that give adult predators nectar between meals. In my experience, a garden with mixed plantings and no harsh chemicals grows its own mite-hunting army in one season.
You can attract more beneficial insects spider mites hate by adding cover crops and mulch to your beds. These give predators places to hide, breed, and wait for their next mite meal. Keep your garden messy enough to support life at the small scale. Buy and release predatory mites for bad outbreaks, but let nature handle the day to day control for you. Your garden is full of allies if you just stop wiping them out with the wrong products.
Read the full article: Spider Mites: Full Guide to Control
