Special Blend Mite Mix — P. persimilis, A. andersoni, A. cucumeris, and A. swirskii — Four-Species Spider Mite Control

Special Blend Mite Mix — P. persimilis, A. andersoni, A. cucumeris, and A. swirskii — Four-Species Spider Mite Control

One specialist for fast knockdown, three generalists that stay on guard.

Spider mites don’t wait for ideal conditions. A grow room runs warm under the lights and cool when they’re off. A greenhouse swings between muggy and dry. An outdoor bed goes from spring chill to summer heat. Special Blend Mite Mix puts four predatory mites to work in a single release, so whatever your plants are going through, part of the team is suited to it.

The blend pairs a spider mite specialist that clears active hot spots with three hardy generalists that stay on your plants between outbreaks. Together they cover webbing spider mites, broad mites and russet mites, with thrips and whitefly control as a bonus.

Four Predatory Mites, One Release

Predatory mites come in two working styles. Type I specialists eat one kind of prey and hit it hard. Type II generalists eat a wider range of pests, and they can live on pollen when prey runs low, so they stay put. Special Blend Mite Mix combines both styles:

Pest Targets

Primary Targets:

• Two-spotted spider mite
• Carmine spider mite
• Pacific spider mite
• Strawberry spider mite
• European red mite
• Citrus red mite
• Broad mite
• Russet mite
• Rust mite
• Hemp russet mite

Secondary Targets:

• Cyclamen mite
• Young thrips larvae
• Whitefly eggs and early nymphs

How It Works

P. persimilis is small enough to slip through dense webbing that blocks other predators. It eats spider mites at every stage, from eggs to adults. Because it feeds only on spider mites, its numbers drop once they’re gone. The three Amblyseius species patrol leaf undersides and the areas along leaf veins. They eat pest eggs and young pests wherever they find them. When prey is scarce, they can live on pollen or Good Bug Supplemental Diet Cards, so they stay on your plants and catch new pests as they arrive. Each species also breeds on the plant, so new generations keep up the pressure without you having to do anything.

When to Use It

Release bottled Special Blend Mite Mix at the first sign of stippled leaves or fine webbing. For prevention, hang sachets early in the season, at planting, or after transplanting, before pest mites build up.

Temperature determines which members of the blend do the most work:

• Below about 68°F, A. andersoni and A. cucumeris carry the load while P. persimilis and A. swirskii slow down.
• Between 68°F and 80°F, all four are active.
• Above 80°F, A. cucumeris fades and the other three take over.
• In the hottest conditions, A. andersoni and A. swirskii hold on longest.

Bottles or Sachets

Bottled mites: for active infestations

• A concentrated dose you sprinkle straight onto the problem leaves
• The fastest way to bring down an infestation that has already taken hold
• Suitable for houseplants, garden beds, greenhouses and larger growing areas
• Reapply weekly or every other week as needed

Slow-release sachets: for prevention and upkeep

• Each sachet holds mixed life stages that leave gradually over 2–4 weeks
• Keeps fresh predators moving onto your plants without repeated handling
• If webbing is already present, start with bottled mites and switch to sachets once the infestation is under control

Application Rates

These are general starting points. Actual application should be adjusted based on pest pressure/species, plant type, and infestation severity.

Bottled mites

• Light infestation: 2–4 mites per sq. ft., weekly or every 2 weeks
• Heavy infestation: 5–10 mites per sq. ft., weekly or every 2 weeks
• For heavy infestations, don’t rely on raising the rate alone. Combine Special Blend Mite Mix with other compatible controls as part of an IPM approach.

Slow-release sachets

• Plants touching: hang 1 sachet per 3–6 sq. ft.
• Plants not touching: hang 1 sachet per plant
• Replace every 2–4 weeks

Temperature & Humidity Range

• Temperature: 47–104°F across the blend, with all four species active between 68°F and 80°F
• Humidity: 60–90%. P. persimilis eggs need about 70% humidity in the plant canopy to hatch, so keep humidity up where spider mites are worst.

Application Instructions

Bottled

1. Release in the early morning, in the evening, or while grow lights are off.
2. Lightly mist the leaves to raise humidity around the plants.
3. Gently rotate the bottle to mix the mites through the carrier.
4. Sprinkle the contents onto the leaves with the most webbing and stippling, or use Hanging Boxes to keep the mites in the target areas.
5. Leave the open bottle among the plants for up to 72 hours so the remaining mites can find their way out.
6. Repeat every 1–2 weeks until spider mite activity drops, then switch to sachets for maintenance.

Sachets

1. Choose the plants you want to protect.
2. Hang each sachet in the canopy, touching the foliage and out of direct sun. Don’t cut or open the sachet; the mites leave through the built-in opening.
3. Keep sachets from drying out completely, but avoid spots where they stay wet, which can encourage mold.
4. Replace every 2–4 weeks.

Pairing for Heavy Spider Mite Pressure

• Stethorus punctillum (Spider Mite Destroyer): a small beetle that eats large numbers of spider mites, useful on dense colonies and taller plants.
• Feltiella acarisuga: a predatory midge whose adults fly to spider mite colonies and lay eggs. The larvae then feed on the mites, reaching spots crawling predators miss.
• Good Bug Supplemental Diet Cards: an Artemia-based food source that helps the generalists in the blend hold their numbers when pests and pollen are scarce. Contains shellfish.
• Hanging Boxes: keep bottle contents dry and concentrated where pests are feeding.

Safe, Sustainable Pest Management

• 100% natural, with no chemical residue
• Safe around people and pets
• Safe for edible crops
• Fits into existing IPM programs
• No protective equipment needed

Storage

Release Special Blend Mite Mix the day it arrives for best results. If you have to wait, keep the unopened container at 50–55°F, out of direct sunlight, for no more than 18 hours. Never freeze.

FAQs

Why use a blend instead of a single predatory mite?
Each species has a temperature and humidity range where it works best, and no single mite covers every situation. The blend means one release can handle the conditions you actually have. You also get a specialist for fast cleanup and generalists for staying power.

Will Special Blend Mite Mix work in a dry room?
The generalists handle moderate humidity, but P. persimilis needs about 70% humidity in the canopy for its eggs to hatch. Misting before release and keeping humidity in the 60–90% range gives the whole blend its best chance.

What happens once the spider mites are gone?
P. persimilis dies off when it runs out of spider mites. The three generalists can live on pollen, other small prey, and Good Bug Supplemental Diet Cards, so they stay on your plants and catch new pests as they show up. 

Can I use neem oil or insecticidal soap with Special Blend Mite Mix?
Not at the same time. Even natural sprays can kill predatory mites on contact, and some stay harmful after they dry. If you need to spray, do it first and wait until the residue has worn off before releasing. Avoid spraying plants where sachets are hanging.

Should I choose bottles or sachets?
Choose bottles when spider mites are already feeding, so you can put a concentrated dose right on the problem. Choose sachets for prevention and upkeep. Many growers use bottles to bring an infestation down, then switch to sachets to keep it from returning.

When will I see a difference?
Control builds as the predators feed and breed. Check leaf undersides weekly. Fewer spider mite eggs, less new webbing and less fresh stippling mean it’s working.

Is it safe around kids, pets and food crops?
Yes. These predators don’t bite people or pets and don’t feed on plants, and Special Blend Mite Mix is suitable for edible crops.