Wheat Curl Mites: A Guide for Young Gardeners
Wheat curl mites are tiny creatures that can cause big problems for your onion and garlic plants. They’re so small that you can’t even see them with your naked eye, but they can do a lot of damage.
What are Wheat Curl Mites?
Wheat curl mites are plant-feeding mites that love to eat wheat, onions, and garlic. They have two pairs of legs near their head and a cigar-shaped body.
How to Identify Wheat Curl Mite Damage
The most common sign of wheat curl mite damage is twisted, yellow streaked leaves. The mites can also cause onions and garlic to desiccate, or dry out.
What are the Different Types of Wheat Curl Mites?
There are several different types of wheat curl mites, but the most common one is Aceria tulipae. This type of mite is found all over the world and can cause serious damage to wheat, onion, and garlic crops.
How Do Wheat Curl Mites Reproduce?
Wheat curl mites reproduce by laying eggs. The eggs are laid in rows along leaf veins. Under optimal conditions, a new generation of mites can be produced in just 10 days.
How Long Do Wheat Curl Mites Live?
Wheat curl mites can live for several days at temperatures below 0 degrees F. (-17 C.) and for several months at near freezing temperatures. This means that they can be present in your garden for an extended period of time.
How to Prevent Wheat Curl Mites
There are a few things you can do to prevent wheat curl mites from infesting your garden:
- Choose resistant varieties of wheat, onion, and garlic.
- Plant your crops at the right time of year. Wheat curl mites are most active in the spring and summer.
- Keep your garden clean of weeds. Weeds can provide a hiding place for wheat curl mites.
- Inspect your plants regularly for signs of infestation. If you see any twisted, yellow streaked leaves, take action immediately.
How to Treat Wheat Curl Mites
There are a few different ways to treat wheat curl mites:
- Hot water treatment: This is the most effective way to control wheat curl mites. Soak your onion or garlic bulbs in hot water (130-140 degrees F.) for 10-15 minutes.
- Bleach solution: You can also use a bleach solution to kill wheat curl mites. Mix 1 part bleach with 9 parts water and soak your bulbs for 10 minutes.
- Neem oil: Neem oil is a natural pesticide that can be used to control wheat curl mites. Apply neem oil to your plants according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How to Get Rid of Wheat Curl Mites on Onions and Garlic
If you have a wheat curl mite infestation on your onions or garlic, there are a few things you can do to get rid of them:
- Remove and destroy infested plants. This is the best way to prevent the mites from spreading to other plants.
- Treat your remaining plants with a miticide. There are a number of different miticides available at your local garden center.
- Keep your garden clean of weeds. Weeds can provide a hiding place for wheat curl mites.
Additional Tips
- Don’t plant successive onion or garlic crops. This will help to prevent the mites from reproducing and spreading.
- Use clean seed. Wheat curl mites can be transmitted through infected seed.
- Inspect your plants regularly. Early detection is key to controlling wheat curl mites.
