It also helps prevent the spread to other plants in your collection.
Webbing
Spider mites are members of the arachnid family that spin webs.
Discovering fine, silken webbing is the most visible early sign that mites are present.
ÐлÑга Симонова / Getty Images
Extensive large webs or more than one web point to infestation.
Stippling on Leaves
Feeding takes place mainly on the undersides of leaves.
Mites use mouth parts to puncture and suck juices from foliage.
Extensive damage causes holes in the foliage and is a sign of a more severe infestation.
If the plant is adequately hydrated, check for signs of spider mites, like webbing or stippling.
Premature loss of leaves means extensive damage is interrupting nutrient flow and causing chlorosis.
What Is Chlorosis?
Chlorosis is a general term for the symptoms of uniform leaf yellowing.
Many stresses, including underwatering, overwatering, lack of light, and nutrient deficiencies may cause it.
Spider mite damage leads to a loss of the plant’s vigor that it needs to grow.
What Do Spider Mites Look Like?
Numbers increase rapidly as females lay about 100 eggs in just over two months.
When disturbed, the mites move rapidly in a crablike crawl over plant surfaces.
Leaves are peppered with small holes or yellowing and dropping off prematurely.
Damaged foliage can be removed, but do not remove more than a third.
If most of the plant is defoliated, dispose of it.
Early treatment usually restores the plant to good health.
Interrupting the mite’s life cycle is critical to gaining control, eradicating thepest, and avoiding continuing infestations.
Do not reintroduce it into your plant population until the situation is controlled.
Wait at least two weeks to ensure it’s mite-free.
Tip
Avoid using chemical pesticides.
These chemical pesticides may spark an even worse infestation, so stick to horticultural or neem oil.
Treat the plant with horticultural or neem oil, which will eliminate other unwanted hitchhikers.
False spider mites are most often mistaken for actual spider mites.
They are in the mite family, a little smaller than spider mites, and brick-red in color.
They also do not produce webs.
When you see the mites, you should probably treat your plant immediately.
Spider mites are tiny and nearly microscopic until they reach adulthood.
Recognizing early signs helps avoid infestation.
United States Department of Agriculture
Two-Spotted Spider Mites.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources.
