Hi
I have noticed that I have been getting a lot of spider webs on my Bonsai lately.
I don't seem to be able to find the culprits, so they must be small.
They are webbing up the foliage, which looks horrible.
I am thinking about spraying them with something, but have no idea of what I should use
Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Brad
Hi I had this problem a few years ago I now spray Natural Pyrethrum on all my trees 3 times dureing the year it kills most insects and spiders,I have no problems now. regards phantom
Spiders are friends and should be encouraged, they eat all sorts of nasty bugs. I have resident spiders in my trees every summer and they are very welcome.
Craigw
Spiders are the most beneficial of all the possible things you could get living in your trees.
I have many trees covered in varying amounts of web and absolutely NO pests... even my roses are aphid free since allowing the spiders free rein....
Let them live & thank them daily for keeping your trees pest free!
Matt
Edit: the only time they are not welcome is when I walk thru the web in the middle of the night because i dont want to bother with the light...
Last edited by MattA on January 9th, 2011, 1:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
42 Mice ~Imperfection
"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives the test first, the lesson afterwards." ~ Vernon Sanders Law
"All the knowledge I possess everyone else can acquire, but my heart is all my own." ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goeth
"Bonsai becomes great when growers start trees they know they will never see in a pot"
I understand what everyone is saying, I too encourage and keep spiders in many of my trees. Though they do have a tendency to web/wrap new foliage. If not pulled off it can die back.
Jumping spiders are my favourite, so socialble and funny with their articulated neck, they look up at you. Funny little things, I handle photograph them all the time.
Regards, Mitchell.
"It is one thing to shape a tree into form, but when you are able to convincingly deceive ones perception of reality, something much more is accomplished than just a simple bonsai."
"In a perfect world, we would all be giants and all plants Bonsai."
If its dense webs amongst the leaves it might not be spiders at all. There are some caterpillars that make webs for protection. We have lots this year on a range of natives in the garden - Leptospermum, Kunzea, Melaleuca, Eremophila and persoonia all affected this year. All recover quickly without treatment though. If you gently tease apart the webbing the caterpillar often drops out onto the ground and escapes.
Dipel is good for caterpillars as it does not kill other bugs.
shibui wrote:If its dense webs amongst the leaves it might not be spiders at all. There are some caterpillars that make webs for protection. We have lots this year on a range of natives in the garden - Leptospermum, Kunzea, Melaleuca, Eremophila and persoonia all affected this year. All recover quickly without treatment though. If you gently tease apart the webbing the caterpillar often drops out onto the ground and escapes.
Dipel is good for caterpillars as it does not kill other bugs.
here here i second that! caterpillars do that tight leaf binding! and dipel is a natural product derived from a bacteria
found in soil so no harm done to other vital insects (yes spiders included)
This could be a whole new post. How about some photos?
I'm not far from you (Telopea) but can't remember seeing these jumping spiders. Fascinating.
Spiders are definitely friendly sentinels watching over our Bonsai.
I have a great collection of Praying Mantis amongst the Bonsai and they are also a beneficial.
When you observe them and even handle them for a while , their reactions seem to indicate a degree of intelligence....creepy!
Gary
Yamadori is purely Bonsai in spades
My Avatar is a female Apis Mellifera (honey bee) from before 2600BC
Up until now she has been responsible for pollinating 80% of mankind's fruit and vegetables
as well as 90% of mother earth's flowers. What if...............?
Spiders are fine as long as they stay outside and away from me. I don't mind them on my trees as long as they are little, and I don't need to work on that particular tree at that partiuclar time. They are not my favourite beastie, but I do respect their place in the food chain.
Glenda
"Knowledge is not a heavy thing to carry around" - JB Taylor (my father)
"The more you learn the more you earn" - JB Taylor
"There are exceptions to every rule, but to be an exception, you must first be exceptional" - Me
I personally think spiders are a wonderful creature! The most common to get on your bonsai are the jumping spider, the small spiders are very fast, harmless and hungry. They're good to have on your trees and they love to eat those pesky aphids, you don't have too take care of them either (as long as the bonsai trees are outside). They're more of pets than pests really, i think you should thank him to be there. Honestly i purposely get spiders and keep them on the trees. It's a pet, a decoration and a natural bug killer all at the same time!!! they're worth keeping
Even the most unfortunate try to reach a common goal, and thus, they shall be rewarded.
Being smart, is not trying to be smart.
the only reason critics say bad things is because they can't do it themselves.
G'day Gary, I'm Pm you. Sorry missed your post before.
Half a year ago, I lost all my photography work from the previous 2 years, that included all my macro work, 1000's and 1000's of processed shots gone. I'll try and find some of mine from sites I have uploaded too in the past.
Here's a little JS shot on glass, with a film of water on top of it. He's about 4mm long. It also shows an effect I discovered, amoungst jumping spider where they "emmit" a glow. You can not see this at all, with the naked eye. I can not find sources on the net either, though I am sure someone else may have figured it out too. I have heaps more like this, I'll try and find them later after work.
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Last edited by Mitchell on January 29th, 2011, 3:22 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Regards, Mitchell.
"It is one thing to shape a tree into form, but when you are able to convincingly deceive ones perception of reality, something much more is accomplished than just a simple bonsai."
"In a perfect world, we would all be giants and all plants Bonsai."
