The Tropical Fruit Forum

Everything Else => Tropical Vegetables and Other Edibles => Topic started by: BajaJohn on October 16, 2017, 05:27:51 PM

Title: Spider mites on my sweet potatoes?
Post by: BajaJohn on October 16, 2017, 05:27:51 PM

My thriving sweet potatoes have an area of dying leaves with webs over the top of them. Does this look like a spider mite infestation?

(https://s1.postimg.cc/48expvcfcr/IMG_20171015_1834009_rewind.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/48expvcfcr/)


(https://s1.postimg.cc/9d4scj1oqz/IMG_20171015_1833536_rewind.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/9d4scj1oqz/)

Title: Re: Spider mites on my sweet potatoes?
Post by: ericalynne on October 18, 2017, 06:29:04 AM

In my experience, spider mites do not create such a major web. It looks more like tent caterpillars from your photo. If so, you should find little caterpillars inside, in the process of growing bigger. A brief google search shows that tent caterpillars do grow on sweet potatoes.
Erica

Title: Re: Spider mites on my sweet potatoes?
Post by: BajaJohn on October 18, 2017, 08:43:29 AM

Thank you very much for the suggestion Erica. Initial Google searches had turned up only spider mites but encouraged by your post, I hunted a little more and also found bagworms and webworms in addition to tent caterpillars. The webworms may be another candidate as they tend to form webs over leaves rather than a nest in the nodes of branches produced by tent caterpillars. I didn't find caterpillars or pupae on the leaves so it is still a mystery. I'll have to look closer and see what I can find.

Title: Re: Spider mites on my sweet potatoes?
Post by: nattyfroootz on October 19, 2017, 11:47:19 AM

I've seen spidermites to that degree before. Could very well be, look for sawdust looking droppings on surrounding leaves.