Laboratory scientists have been studying a wild character in the  European countryside. This tiny rascal is the Lewis spider mite, and there is no candy cane to deal with in the end. They do not have a monster of a bad reputation to live up to.   It is not the bad guy scientists thought they may have.

LSM, the one with a two-year journey, was found in three places. It was all over poinsettia, waddling with the castor bean seeds.  It did not touch the strawberry, grape, or the brittle citrus farm. Little guy, quite a picker. He had an appetite for poisonous beans and poinsettia. He did not have a passion for the likes of fruitful vines. When you were eating over poisonous beans and poinsettias, you can bet the tiny guy was nearby too. They were in a location right next to the food. Spanning across Southwestern Europe, LSM's  geographical habitat does not span anything plants to infest.

Little as it is, LSM is a monster in a very different sense. He does not make farms but he does not destroy them. They do not have the potential to make a mess out of crops for the farmer, LSM does not harm crops.  The bad rep these pesty guys are known for, is not as much of a reality. No harm was found in the agricultural sector.

The cute little spider mite was only in a few places. They were not infesting everyone's garden. You would not believe it if we told you.  Lewis Spider Mite passed the crop without giving any damage. Therefore in the garden as well. He appeared today, and was gone tomorrow. The crop was just as fresh as you left it. Somebody said he is going to be a nasty mite. He proved them so wrong in the end. He should have gotten a raise for the good he did.   It is the joy of LSM  to waltz around the fruit and vegetables in the countryside.   He waltzes around but does not take a nibble! Pretty amazing if you ask us.

The scientist began to write a tale on the story of LSM. He had some surprise for the crops. He set some traps. The thought of him was to tell if detentions will affect neighboring crops.

After getting close to the plants, the LSM did not harm them. In a few months the mite is out, the crops are in.  The crops are still at their positions, the plants were untouched. No question about it.   The LSM is set up for the big fall. His damage turned out to be something else, there is no harm in him. With the end of the day, the crops grow in your garden without a worry. Scientists say that crops are safe from the mites in Europe. The author concludes this by quipping that if we can understand little LSM's behavior well, then we can stop using precious human resources to track down the mite.   He is not good or bad but if you are forced to lend a hand to the cause, then you will.

A Mite Mistake, The Crops Spared

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