What Predator Mites to buy?

I am trying to find a source for predator mites that is cheap and contains a variety of different mites. Not 100% sure there are even spider mites, damage is minimal so it might be Beatles or caterpillars or aphids -- put a lady bug down there, but I'm not sure where it went.

Will lacewings eat spider mites effectively? Thinking about either getting lady bugs or praying mantis eggs.

lady bugs and praying mantis are good beneficial predator mites.

crazyhazey said:

lady bugs and praying mantis are good beneficial predator mites.

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I think you misunderstood - they actually have mites called "predator mites". Ladybugs and mantis, while perhaps "mite predators", are not "predator mites"

"There are roughly 1600 different species of Spider Mites which are part of the Acari Mite family."

Here are some popular predators:

Feltiella acarisuga
Target: Various species of spider mites. SPIDEND is recommended especially when spider mites occur in colonies.

Amblyseius cucumeris
Target : Various thrips species. Hatching eggs and the first larval stage. Predatory mites also eat spider mites (f.e. strawberry mite, broad mite), several other mites, honeydew and pollen.

Amblyseius californicus
Target : Two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) and fruit tree red spider mite (Panonychus ulmi). All stages, preferring younger stages. Predatory mites also survive on other mites and pollen and can survive for a number of weeks without food.

Phytoseiulus persimilis
Target : Two spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae). All stages, preferring younger stages. The predatory mite can only survive on two spotted spider mites (Tetranychus spp.).

...so depending on your mites. Feltiella acarisuga is a good general choice.

There is also a product called "No Spider Mites". It's expensive but it works great...
far better than Neem oil, and it kills the eggs too.

tibberous said:

I think you misunderstood - they actually have mites called "predator mites". Ladybugs and mantis, while perhaps "mite predators", are not "predator mites"

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geez thats vague to name a bug "predator mite". last time i remembered they called em beneficial mites, not that bug but praying mantis, ladybugs, etc.