Red beasties on my aubergines & peppers

[amandaandherveg]

Not been in the GH for a couple of days as it has been very cold so no need to water. When I went in this morning my 2 aubergines plants are crawling with tiny redish/brown coloured bugs.

Not sure if its connected but one of my pepper plants has lots all its leaves at the leaf joint and has a yellow tinge as do a few of the others. These beasties are pretty much everywhere but seem to be worst on the peppers and aubergines but not so bad on the peppers. Can you tell me what they are, what damage they are doing and what I can do to get rid of them?

[HayleyB]

Could they be red spider mite, are they really tiny? If so you'll need to give them a good misting of water, wash them all off or use Pyrethrin. I grew everything outside this year as I got RSM in my conservatory...

[amandaandherveg]

They are approximately the size of a greenfly - I had thought Spider Mite but these aren't miniscule?

[HayleyB]

Ooooooer, haven't the foggiest then

[amandaandherveg]

My head has been itchy since I went into the GH - ICK!

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

Eek! I thought Red Spider Mite were the size of greenfly. I take a misting gun with a few drops of washing up liquid and attack greenfly (washing up liquid) and the spider mite (water) at the same time - does that make sense?

[amandaandherveg]

Ok Frosty, Im sure it won't do any harm - I shall give them a blast.

[Alice]

It sounds like red spider mite to me Amanda. Hard to get rid of. If you're prepared to use a chemical spray then just look for one that does the job. If not then look for organic methods of control.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I always thought Red Spider Mite like hot, dry conditions which is why misting helps - cools and dampens the air. Oops I may be misting for no good reason!

[smallblueplanet]

You're right FF, and aubs like warm humid conditions - so dry air is not good.