Asked on Aug 14, 2017

Keeping spider mites off milkweed for my caterpillars

Answered

I raise monarch butterflies and therefore I can't use anything so harmful that it kills the caterpillars. But I am losing the fight against these stupid spider mites and need HELP PLEASE!

7 answers

Janet Pizaro
on Aug 14, 2017

Spray Horticultral oil

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Landsharkinnc
on Aug 14, 2017

try a horticultureal soap brushed on the underside of the leaves - Good for you! wish people would raise HORNWORMS for the Sphinx/Hummingbird moth but they'll NEVER have the popularity of Monarchs!

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- Linda Carpenter
  on Dec 4, 2017
  
  I always leave the Hornworms alone I love the Hummingbird moths I also never kill Oleander caterpillars that get all over my Desert roses because I love the Spotted wasp moths 🙂
  
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Nancy Turner
on Aug 14, 2017

Wish I could help you, did you know that Monarchs also will feed on dill? I have two on mine this year, one is already in chrysalis form. I have them every year on my dill. I let them take it over as I would rather have them survive and be healthy butterflies than cut the dill. I can always buy dill, but nothing can replace the butterflies.

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- Linda Carpenter
  on Dec 4, 2017
  
  The caterpillars you have eating your dill are Swallowtail caterpillars they can be easily mistaken for Monarch caterpillars but the big difference is Monarch caterpillars will only eat Milkweed 🙂
  
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Sharon
on Aug 14, 2017

I used soapy water to kill spider mites on my inside plants.

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Naomie Moore aka baileyanddaisey, Castaic CA
on Aug 14, 2017

Yay! Good for you, love Monarch's. See if these links help . . . Good luck!

https://www.getridofthings.com/pests/bugs/get-rid-of-spider-mites/

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/513546/#b

http://www.butterflyfunfacts.com/spidermites.php

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Robyn Garner
on Aug 14, 2017

Order some ladybugs! They will pretty much stick around your house and eat the aphids.

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Kaylinn Hill-Woldt
on Jun 24, 2019

Hey Robin, I almost got ladybugs to Take care of the aphids on my milkweed, but then I found out they also eat monarch eggs 😢

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Keeping spider mites off milkweed for my caterpillars

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