How do cucumber leaves look with spider mites? - briefly
Cucumber foliage infested with spider mites shows a fine, stippled yellow or bronze speckling on the upper surface, often accompanied by a dull, mottled appearance. Tiny silk webbing may be visible along leaf veins and on the plant’s undersides.
How do cucumber leaves look with spider mites? - in detail
Cucumber foliage infested by spider mites shows a distinct pattern of damage. The upper leaf surface often appears speckled with tiny, translucent spots where the mites have fed, giving the leaf a stippled or stippling appearance. As feeding continues, the chlorophyll is removed, creating a mosaic of light‑green to yellow patches that may coalesce into larger discolorated areas.
The leaf edges frequently develop a bronzed or bronze‑tinged hue, especially on the margins and veins. In severe cases, the tissue becomes necrotic, turning brown or black and eventually dropping off. The undersides of the leaves reveal a dense web of fine silk, particularly when mite populations are high; the web can be seen as a faint, powdery coating that may trap dust.
Additional visual cues include:
- Stunted growth: new leaves are smaller and may curl upward or downward.
- Reduced vigor: overall plant appears wilted despite adequate water.
- Webbing: fine, silky threads covering leaf surfaces and stems.
- Mite bodies: tiny, oval, reddish‑brown organisms, often visible only with magnification, but sometimes seen as moving specks.
The combination of stippled discoloration, bronzed margins, web formation, and tissue necrosis provides a reliable diagnosis of spider mite infestation on cucumber plants. Early identification allows prompt intervention to prevent further leaf loss and yield reduction.