My little seedlings were doing great, I thought, then curled or shriveled leaves started. I'm assuming this is some type of mite or ?? Anything I can do to stop it?
Thanks,
Glenna
What pest is attacking my seedlings
Looks like maybe aphids or spider mites. Do you see anything on the underneath side of the leaves? Aphids can be yellow or a greenish-clear color. Try spraying with a mixture of soap and water and see if that helps. Just fill a squirt bottle with water and add a bit of soap (I use Murphy's Oil Soap). You'll probably have to spray more than once and watch for them to reappear.
Have had aphids on other things, regular type on Home Run roses early in spring and the yellow ones on Milkweed. I just washed them off. But on these seedlings' under side of leaves, nothing as large as an aphid but very microscopic brown bits that I can't distinguish from soil splash but maybe it is spider mites. In this heat, seems everything is under attack. August always makes me question whether I really want a flower garden. But then I have to remind myself that having the horrible heat of July and August is necessary - or we would have so many people moving to our area of Texas that we couldn't stand it. LOL.
Then spider mites is my guess. You can spray them every other day with some liquid seaweed and compost tea until they're gone, then you can spray for them weekly.