How can you recognize a strawberry mite on strawberries? - briefly
Tiny, moving specks or stippled yellow‑brown patches on the fruit surface, often with fine silk threads, indicate the presence of the mite. Corresponding leaf damage, such as bronzed or stippled foliage, confirms infestation.
How can you recognize a strawberry mite on strawberries? - in detail
Strawberry spider mite (Phyllocoptes fragariae) can be distinguished by several observable characteristics on the plant and fruit.
Visible signs on foliage include stippled or bronzed discoloration of leaf surfaces, often beginning at the leaf margins and progressing toward the mid‑rib. A fine webbing may be present on the undersides of leaves, especially in humid conditions. Leaf edges may appear curled or distorted, and in severe infestations the leaf tissue can become necrotic, producing small, dry patches.
On the fruit, the mite’s feeding creates tiny, translucent spots that later turn brown or black as the tissue dies. These lesions are usually scattered and may coalesce into larger irregular patches. The fruit surface may exhibit a roughened texture where the mite has punctured epidermal cells.
Direct observation of the mite is possible with a hand lens or low‑power microscope. Adult females are oval, 0.2–0.3 mm long, and possess a reddish‑brown coloration. Their dorsal shields are marked with faint striations, and the legs are short. Juvenile stages (nymphs) are smaller and lighter in color but share the same body shape.
A systematic inspection routine should include:
- Examination of the lower leaf surface for stippling, bronzing, and fine silk.
- Sampling of several leaves from different canopy levels and mounting them on a slide with a drop of water.
- Observation under 10–40× magnification to confirm the presence of adult females or motile stages.
- Inspection of fruit for minute, dead‑cell spots, especially near the stem attachment.
Chemical or biological control decisions rely on the population density. An economic threshold is often set at 5–10 mites per leaf when webbing is evident. Early detection, before extensive fruit damage, allows for targeted interventions such as miticidal soaps, horticultural oils, or predatory phytoseiid releases.
Regular monitoring throughout the growing season, combined with accurate identification of the mite’s characteristic feeding damage, ensures timely management and minimizes loss of marketable berries.