Field Identification
Tiny green spider mites that stipple cassava leaves from the bottom up, bronzing canopies during dry weather when plants cannot sweat out the insult. Populations spike where drought meets dust.
Fine speckling, leaf roll, and early defoliation; silk is sparse compared to tetranychids but injury pattern rhymes. Mites hide on lower leaf surfaces.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Sulfur or horticultural oil where temperature labels allow; insecticidal soap with thorough underside coverage—three passes beat one heroic soak.
Typhlodromalus aripo and other phytoseiids are introduced/banker predators in programs abroad; minute pirate bugs and staphylinids contribute locally.
Irrigate to raise humidity in nurseries; avoid excessive nitrogen that pushes succulent growth; plant windbreaks to cut dust.
Overhead rinse in early morning on small plots—cheap humidity bump.
Scout the third leaf from the shoot apex—early mites are cheaper than naked stems.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Typhlodromalus aripo
- Minute Pirate Bugs
Threat Map