Plants, and especially fruit trees, are very vulnerable to pests. In the case of citrus, there is a parasite that must be closely controlled as it can cause significant problems: wonder mite.
So if you have these types of trees in your orchard or garden, in this article I'm going to talk to you about this pest so that you know how to identify it and what you can do to eliminate it.
How is it?
The wonder mite, whose scientific name is sheldoni, It is a mite that has an elongated, cylindrical body, with two oral stylets and two pairs of legs on the front.. It is about 0,2mm long, so it cannot be seen with the naked eye, but can be seen with a magnifying glass or microscope.
Their cycle begins when the female lays the eggs - up to 50! - in the yolks of the trees, where they will live throughout their lives feeding on plant cells. In 15 or 30 days - depending on whether it is summer or winter - another generation will be born.
Citrus fruits - especially lemon trees - are its main victims.
What are the damages it causes and how is it eliminated?
The damages are basically alterations in the development of leaves, flowers and fruits. For example, healthy lemons have a more or less rounded shape, but when they have been affected by this pest they could well look like a somewhat curious flower (see image above). The most effective way to date to control or eliminate it is by treating the plants with chemical phytosanitary products, such as mineral oil or abamectin following the instructions specified on the packaging.
Now, I advise trying first of all with the diatomaceous earth (you can get it here), which is natural and not harmful to human, animal or environmental health. Being made of silica, when it comes into contact with parasites it pierces their body, causing them to die dehydrated. The dose is about 35g for each liter of water.
I hope it has been useful to you 🙂.