How does a spider mite look on gooseberry? - briefly
Spider mites appear as minute, almost invisible, pale‑green to reddish specks on the undersides of gooseberry leaves, often accompanied by fine webbing. Their feeding creates stippled, yellow‑ish patches that may merge into larger leaf‑blotch areas.
How does a spider mite look on gooseberry? - in detail
Spider mites that colonize gooseberries are minute arachnids, typically measuring 0.2–0.3 mm in length. Their bodies are elongated and oval, divided into two main regions: the gnathosoma (mouthparts) and the idiosoma (main body). The dorsal surface bears a soft, translucent cuticle that often appears pale green to yellowish when alive, becoming brownish after death.
Coloration varies with feeding stage. Actively feeding individuals display a faint greenish hue due to ingested plant fluids, while non‑feeding stages are lighter, sometimes almost invisible on the leaf surface. Under magnification, the legs are slender, each bearing two pairs of long setae that aid in movement across the smooth fruit skin.
Typical locations on the fruit include:
- Underside of leaves attached to the gooseberry bush, where the mites form dense colonies.
- Stipules and young shoots, areas with tender tissue.
- Occasionally, the fruit surface itself, especially near the calyx, where feeding causes stippling.
Visible damage caused by the mites assists in identification:
- Minute yellow or bronze speckles (stippling) where epidermal cells have been ruptured.
- Fine webbing, almost invisible, connecting groups of mites; the web appears as a silvery sheen under bright light.
- Premature leaf drop and reduced fruit set, indicative of severe infestation.
Microscopic examination reveals characteristic features:
- Four pairs of legs, each ending in a claw‑like structure.
- Two pairs of sensory hairs (setae) on the anterior dorsal shield.
- A pair of posterior ventral plates (anal plates) that may show faint pigmentation.
These traits collectively define the appearance of the pest on gooseberries and enable accurate field diagnosis.