Although spiders are common in growing many plants an trees. Its the spider mite that cause the most damange, they love dry humid and warm conditions.

A good spray using the garden hose is helpful in controlling the problem, as is using an Ultra fine horticultural oil.

Although you never stated the name of the insecticide used.

I suggest given your tree or trees a good leaf hose down using fresh water.

Also a photo would be helpful. Its my guess... Tom

Spiders are beneficial insects, so it's unlikely that an insecticide manufacturer would take any pains to ensure the vehicle (the liquid the actual poison is mixed with) delivering the 'spider' insecticide was not phytotoxic. IOW, they didn't think anyone would spray it on their plants to kill beneficial insects.

Al

Those Michigan Flat Landers need to get a life. Have another Michigan Soda big boy. Tom

Nihal,
do you mean "spider mites," by chance?

Josh

Scheesch - I'm not sure what I said to deserve the bile, but ..... whatever.

Al

To be honest, I am not sure what you said either Al...?

Oh well...

Mike

My apologies if I was not clear ; i myself do not know if the "spiders" (or spider mites - i'm not sure what this latter refers to) are the cause of my plants unhappiness.

I have tried to post a photograph, but seem unable to do so.

the insecticide I used is for "arraignés rouge" (tiny red spiders) - it is a local product that is used to kill the above spiders (or mites?) and their eggs.

Again, i'm sorry if i cannot contribute greater details; I am a novice gardner hence seeking any help I can get.

Thank you all very much,

Nihal

Hi Josh!

Nihal, can you see the spiders you speak of my the naked eye, or do you need a magnifying glass? Are they big enough to take pictures of? Are you seeing webbing between your branches?

Are your leaves curling up and falling off? I do not think Spidermites cause the black leaf tip damage you refer too on citrus, although they do cause black tip on plumerias.Maybe an insect expert can help you too..

Mike

There are plenty of chemicals that can cause foliar injury if the temperatures become too hot. If your plant has been healthy for quite some time until this episode, I wouldn't hesitate to suggest that the chemical had something to do with it. What is the active ingredient on the label?

Nihal, spider MITES are extremely small...almost too small to be seen with your own eyes, as Mike said. There are, however, other kinds of mites that are a bit larger than the spider mite, yet still tiny. And then, there are spiders.

Thank you. yes, there are very fine webs between the branches, and the leaves are curling up as if they are being shrunk, and many leaves look limp (but the soil is humid so it is not lacking water)... the closer I look at my garden with each passing day, the more spider webs I see (many on the roses), all of which are very fine. Today, the black leaves don't seem to have progressed (there are not any new ones), but the curling leaves certainly do, and no, i do not see any "regular" spiders anywhere. I imagine these are spiderMITES. Is there a non chemical way to get rid of them?

thank you very much,
Nihal

Some suggest garlic water...

Some suggest soapy water..

Others suggest Neem and alcohol along with a small bit of "natural soap"

Others use "Safer Soap" you can buy at any local nursery or hardware store.

Some just wash every leaf off with very soapy water, then rinse the leaves.
All agree though that any treatment shoal be done in the early am, on a cloudy day, or at evening to avoid immediate sun burn..

As you see there are many ways, why even just a jet stream of water on your plants outdoors can get them under control..

This is an excerpt from a thread that Al suggested that always rid my plants of infestation in past...

"Neem doesn't have a significant immediate knockdown effect (you can improve neem's immediate effectiveness by mixing it with 50/50 rubbing alcohol/water, which does provide a significant knockdown of most insects other than scale.) It prevents insects from maturing, sterilizes them, stops them from laying eggs, is an anti-feedant and disrupts digestion, and has fungicidal properties."

Sometimes though I like to use "Neem oil" only in warm soapy water, which seems to do the trick alone. I spray every few days until completely gone..The I spray my plants down a few times in the summer with "fish emulsion" which for me, discourages any pests from sucking on my plant leaves...

Mike

""The I spray my plants down a few times in the summer with "fish emulsion" which for me, discourages any pests from sucking on my plant leaves...""

Well of coarse it does Mike.. It's pretty stinky stuff..lol! I use it too. ;)

I've heard of a mix of garlic and onion and hot peppers, to keep bugs away too.

Great suggestions. :)

JoJo

Nihal, one more thing..

This was my friends plant less than a couple months ago attacked by spider mites!!
Look how horrible the leaves were..

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This is what it looks like today after help from Al and Rhizzo!! I used Neem oil..:-)This is the same plant today...There is hope for yours too and thanks to the wonderful people here! The leaves have greened up and those darn mites have stopped sucking the life out of the leaves..;-)
Thank you...

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hello, i just got back from travels and wanted to thank you all for your help. My lemon plant has "picked up", and seems to be doing better (although now I have a mealy infestation elsewhere!! ugh!!) ; your suggestions have been very helpful, so thanks again!

:=)