Spiders and Spider Mites

My mom and I took this picture one morning. We're not sure if you can see the hairy legs of this spider but it sure is fuzzy looking when you zoom in.

We like that spiders eat bugs. They make this spider webs and catches the bugs and traps them.

Sometimes, I don't see the spider web and I run into it. It's funny because mom and dad do too and you think we're dancing because we're moving our hands to get away from the web.

Sticky Webby

Spider webs are sticky and the spiders are very clever where they make the webs. This particular kind is something new I have seen.

Most of the spiders I see in the house are small and black. Then some thin looking ones called daddy long legs.

Here's a picture backing up some more so you can see where it is.

Isn't it amazing how the spider makes it's web? Are they spitting it out their mouth?

Spiders produce silk from their spinneret glands located at the tip of their abdomen. Each gland produces a thread for a special purpose – for example a trailed safety line, sticky silk for trapping prey or fine silk for wrapping it. Spiders use different gland types to produce different silks, and some spiders are capable of producing up to eight different silks during their lifetime.
Source: Wikipedia

Wow, it's coming from their tummy. Spiders are interesting.

Spider Mites

Are spider mites spider babies? I thought they were. Why are they called spider mites?

Spider mites are not true insects, but are classed as a type of arachnid, relatives of spiders, ticks and scorpions. Adults are reddish brown or pale in color, oval-shaped and very small (1/50 inch long) – about the size of the period at the end of this sentence. Immature stages resemble the adults except only smaller.
Source: Planet Natural

Ooooh so they are kind of like spiders then but not spiders. They're in the same group as spiders and scorpions.

It doesn't matter, we don't like them because they harm our plants inside and outside the house. The young leaves get covered with them and the leaves get shriveled up.

How Do You Treat For Spider Mites?

My mom does 3 things

• Use a packaging tape to stick under the leaves. She does the same thing for aphids.
• Use neem to spray on the plants
• Use insecticidal soap to spray on the plants. We have the OMRI certified one for organic gardening.

When it gets really bad, sometimes I help trim the plants. Not sure if mom threw one plant away. But she did put the affected plants in the trash can.

And we look for lady bugs to put on the plants because they are awesome bugs for aphids and spider mites. I like seeing lady bugs get fat when they have a lot to eat.

What do you do?