Is there a downside to predatory mites?

Just wondering if there is a downside to predatory mites, I cant seem to find one online anywhere. If there isn't, why doesn't everybody just get some predators to keep spider mites away?

Because then you have a ton of predatory mites in your buds.

I personally choose ladybirds and ladybugs.

Those don't get stuck in trichomes.

The down side is simply just predatory mites in your garden. With nothing to feed them, there will inevitably be dead bugs in your grow. Six to one, half a dozen to the other.

The downside to not using them is spider mites, so i'm probably using some. Ladybugs dont seem to like the massive airflow i have going on. Thought the mites wouldnt like it either, yet they have taken out more than one

Found people talking about these on a thread on riu saying they never seen a mite in ages or a pest in that case, just started up again from a few year break and purchased sum on ebay for about £11-15 for 4 or 6 i think it was and i no my tents only been up 3 month i have had one in and seen nothing yet

Powertech said:

Just wondering if there is a downside to predatory mites, I cant seem to find one online anywhere. If there isn't, why doesn't everybody just get some predators to keep spider mites away?

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You ever have a bad case of the CRABS???? well when those mites run out of food you best start manscaping ......they especially love ass cracks , I suggest wax then nair in that order!!!!!

Never had crabs, and thats one hell of a downside, why the hell isnt that plastered all over every forum about growing?!?!?!

budolskie said:

Found people talking about these on a thread on riu saying they never seen a mite in ages or a pest in that case, just started up again from a few year break and purchased sum on ebay for about £11-15 for 4 or 6 i think it was and i no my tents only been up 3 month i have had one in and seen nothing yet View attachment 4761851

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This works just as good. Just hang this sign outside the grow room.

Powertech said:

Just wondering if there is a downside to predatory mites, I cant seem to find one online anywhere. If there isn't, why doesn't everybody just get some predators to keep spider mites away?

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But seriously. I'm a fan of predatory mites and other predators. The problem I have with ladybugs is they like to fly, and they would get all in my fans and shit. I just got EWC and vermicompost and my predators came from that. I actually saw a big eyed bug eat a spider mite a year and a half ago when I was looking through a USB microscope. It was crazy. That little fucker devoured that sucker in like a second. By the time I clicked record on my phone he was done and just licking his little legs and shit. I have a picture of the bug on my IPad.

OK. Here's that big eyed bug after I accidentally broke one of his legs. Warning: Don't tell your girlfriend or wife about your new friends.

PadawanWarrior said:

This works just as good. Just hang this sign outside the grow room.
View attachment 4762653

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Lmfao

You could look into this for prevention, just spray @ 1oz/gal every 7 days on your plants & tops of medium to keep away gnats/thrips.


In my experience ladybugs are awesome to have but they dont stick around for long unless you feed them a lot or have a bad infestation of something they enjoy eating and hunting. I've purposely gone out and harvested dozens of ladybugs and put them in my indoor garden and they end up dying or disappearing.

I guess I'm blessed to have never had mites, I've always just had problems with Powdery Mildew and Gnats in the last 2 years. I had a thrip attack about 6 months ago but a nice dosing of Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew by Bonide took care of that.

Keep in mind too if you use beneficial predators and insects you will be murdering them if you ever need to spray your plants to get rid of a problem that bugs can't solve like powdery mildew or something like that..

PadawanWarrior said:

The problem I have with ladybugs is they like to fly, and they would get all in my fans and shit.

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This is my experience with lady bugs, as well.
Had a couple of inline fans die prematurely due to ladybug carcasses piling up inside of them.
I've used ladybugs late in flower, to help fend off some bad bugs, when spraying isn't an option.
Otherwise, it's Spinosad, all day, everyday.
Well, more like every two weeks like the instructions say, but you know what I mean.

budolskie said:

Found people talking about these on a thread on riu saying they never seen a mite in ages or a pest in that case, just started up again from a few year break and purchased sum on ebay for about £11-15 for 4 or 6 i think it was and i no my tents only been up 3 month i have had one in and seen nothing yet View attachment 4761851

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This belongs in the bro science thread

GeneBanker said:

This belongs in the bro science thread

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When i see pests in my tent thats when i will be to say they dont work, untill then i havnt seen a bug or anything in there so fingers crossed it is the plug in