I have yet to find anything that kills mites other than a systemic. These can't be used on food crops. Neem oil is a waste of money. You may as well spray them with plain water.

I had a really bad problem with tomato russet mites last year. I actually lost a lot of plants before I recognized the problem. I worked with a farm agent and people at Penn State. All of the things they recommended either came in gallon containers or cost several hundred or more dollars. All things considered I would recommend you try insecticidal soaps and liquid sulfur. Good luck and let me know how you do.

Lubadub@aol.com

Vegetable oil plus baking soda with water was highly recommended by an agriculturalist, but it hasn't worked for me.

I'm going to try a mite predator (Galendromus Occidentalis) which cost about $25 per 1000. I wouldn't bet a nickel that they'll do the job, BUT I'm betting $25?? In any case I'll let you know about my success or lack there of in about month. My tomatoes are good, but very pricey.

lubadub,

Using the G.Occidentalis predators was a failure. Probably too many prey, too few predators.

However, ferti-lome dusting sulfur applied as a spray appears to have been effective. In checking one leaf each from six plants that had been heavily infested, I detected, at 30X, a single russet mite.

I'll spray again in a couple weeks, to make sure that the few that survived don't have time to repopulate.