How does a plant affected by spider mite look? - briefly
Leaves display stippled, yellow‑to‑bronze discoloration, fine silken webbing on the undersides, and tiny moving specks. Infested foliage often develops a mottled, bronzed appearance as the mites feed.
How does a plant affected by spider mite look? - in detail
Plants infested with spider mites display a distinctive set of visual signs that become more pronounced as the population expands. The foliage often develops a stippled, pale‑green or yellow pattern caused by the tiny punctures the mites make while feeding. This speckled appearance may coalesce into larger, irregular patches, giving the leaf a mottled or “blotchy” look.
The upper surface of the leaf may show a fine webbing, especially near the leaf veins and at the tips of new growth. This silk is usually sparse at the onset of an outbreak but can thicken into a visible mesh as the infestation progresses.
Leaf edges frequently curl upward or downward, and the affected tissue can become brittle, breaking off easily. In severe cases, leaves may turn bronze or brown, shrink, and drop prematurely.
Root and stem sections are not immune; they can exhibit a thin, dusty coating of mites, sometimes accompanied by a light web that obscures the plant’s natural coloration.
Key visual indicators include:
- Tiny, translucent spots scattered across the leaf surface
- Fine, silken threads forming a delicate web
- Curling or rolling of leaf margins
- Discoloration ranging from light yellow to bronze or brown
- Premature leaf drop and overall stunted growth
These symptoms together provide a reliable diagnostic picture of spider‑mite damage, enabling timely intervention.