Anyone know what's making spider webs in my plants?

Tina Krenz
by Tina Krenz
I have a butterfly weed plant that looks like a spider web has gotten on it, and also the leaves on this plant look sick. But the flowers seem to be doing just fine. On the underside, there are like these I would say, yellowish, orangish looking. These will be in my first photos I put up, and then in the next couple of photos will be of my hollyhock plants (I guess that's what they are) and my question is, what is getting to them, and what can I do safely to heal these conditions and protect my plants? Can you help? Sorry there are so many pics, but these are the worst ones that are really getting me worried. Thanks.
  12 answers
  • Cyndie S Cyndie S on Jun 29, 2014
    Aphids maybe? Take pics to garden store for info.
  • Rhonda B Rhonda B on Jun 29, 2014
    The butterfly weed has a serious case of spider mites-here is a link for organic control: http://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/spider-mite-control/. The hollyhocks damage might be caused by slugs.
  • Tina Krenz Tina Krenz on Jun 29, 2014
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas. How can I get rid of slugs naturally without hurting plants and grass and get rid of the spider mites naturally without harming my other plants and pets? Thanks for any help.
    • See 2 previous
    • Ms Lupe Ms Lupe on Jun 30, 2014
      @Cheryl C Good Moring , Well yes salt works really good , but make sure not to sprinkle around your plants as this will dry them up , so good way to pour salt on grass going between your sidewalks... have a good day :)
  • Cp C Cp C on Jun 29, 2014
    Large leaf item seems to have worms... worms MIGHT also be on the b'fly weed!! Yep, making webs!! IF caterpillars.. maybe you can just move them as u find them.. otherwise some bug killer!! Something mild should do fine... like link lady gave above!
  • Cyndie S Cyndie S on Jun 30, 2014
    For slugs, put out a low dish of beer. They love it and you'll see them collect in the dish.
  • Elizabeth Sagarminaga Elizabeth Sagarminaga on Jun 30, 2014
    Ask an expert, may be you will get the answers there. Remove all of them with water spray and then with some sort of pesticide spray. Remove them as soon as you find a new one. Hope you get rid of those nasty web as soon as possible.
  • Susan Susan on Jun 30, 2014
    They are spider mites
  • 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) 360 Sod (Donna Dixson) on Jul 01, 2014
    organic control of spider mites is really difficult. You may just want to pull the plant and start again.
  • Tina Krenz Tina Krenz on Jul 05, 2014
    I went to my local nursery and they said it wasn't spider mites, because they don't leave webs like that, or they have never ever seen spider mites ever leave webs caused by spider mites, and I showed him the orange looking eggs underneath the leaf and he said it was aphids, and suggested some pesticide spray. I'll see if it works.
  • Donna Foster Donna Foster on Jul 05, 2014
    I have them too, and mine are from a moth that lives in my poplar tree, and they are on a lot of my plants. when I spray the plants it seems like a moth always flies out. I have it on plants that are 100 feet away from the tree. I don't know for sure! good luck
  • Marcia Marcia on Jan 11, 2016
    Most likely spider mites . They do leave very fine webs. remember they aren't insects: they are arachnids. Oil based sprays do help but if you have a severe infestation discard the plants .
  • Vidura Randeepa Vidura Randeepa on Jun 28, 2021

    Spider mites are a type of arachnid, but they are not insects, relatives of spiders, ticks, and scorpions. Tomato red spider mite (Tetranychus evansi) is a small, red-colored arachnid that feeds on the sap of plants using, whiplike mouthparts. Identification of them in the field is difficult and usually requires an expert.

    https://lifeandagri.com/spider-mites/