The Story of the Spider Mite and the Persimilis told from a gardener’s point of view.

Most people are familiar with Mary Howitt poem The Spider and the Fly. For years, parents and teachers have used it to teach children to be aware of flattery and idle silly words because if they didn’t they could end up like the fly. But not all spiders are the victors in the real world.

Spider mites, those arachnid minute creatures who love to destroy plants, have a natural enemy.

So, let me tell you the sequel to this poem –

The Persimilis and the Spider Mite

The spider mite lives inside
the many webs she weaves.
She lays her eggs and sucks the sap,
drying up the leaves.

She invites her growing family,
to weave their many threads.
And drink up all the sap,
until your crops are dead.

Then comes Ms. Persimilis,
hungry as can be.
Allowing herself to dine,
On spider mites jubilee.

For you see, she read the story,
Of the spider and the fly.
And wants to teach a lesson.
That ends better for the fly.

Her wily ways and hunger,
Don’t rely on idle words.
There is no need for flattery,
on natural predators.

And though she is much smaller,
than the spider mite in size.
She attacks her prey with vengeance,
that leaves no mite alive.

And now your plants are safe,
the spider mites are gone
and for Ms. Presimilis
She too does not have long.

For without the food of spider mites,
To keep her hunger stalled
She too will die and leave your plants,
To grow up big and tall.

The moral of this story,
No plant is safe from bugs
Get your natural predators,
to take care of all the thugs!

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