Spical: the most important dos and don’ts.

Spical is a perfect preventative weapon against spider mite – if you use it in the right way. If you want to get the most out of these useful predatory mites, always remember the following tips.

Do's

• Spical’s strength lies in its preventative effect. So, make sure you release Spical before spider mites appear, or when you identify the very first spots.
• Release Spical in the crop as soon as possible after you receive your order.
• Ensure it is evenly distributed in the crop. If you use Spical in bottles, you should scatter it evenly everywhere. Hang the sachets of Spical-Plus or Spical Ulti-Mite in the shelter of leaves, away from the strong sun.
• Choose the right slow-release bag. Spical Ulti-Mite has been specially developed for a Mediterranean climate, i.e. dry and hot. The foil sachet is better protected against drying out.
• When you start using sachets, also scatter the predatory mites from the bottles onto the plants to make sure they’re spread throughout the crop.

Don'ts

• Don’t wait for the spider mite problem to explode, as it’s hard to get under control by that point. If you have a lot of spider mites, you should also consider using Spidex. In case of a large outbreak, chemical correction is first required using a product that doesn’t harm predatory mites.
• Don’t be frugal: release the predatory mites out once every four to five weeks, so that you keep their numbers at a healthy level.
• Don’t release Spical if you’re not sure what kind of mite you’re dealing with. Call in an expert to find out whether your crop is suffering from a spider mite infestation.
• Don’t store the product for too long after receiving it, and don’t store it at high temperatures.