How does a strawberry leaf infested with a mite look? - briefly
Infested leaves display stippled, yellow‑green discoloration, often covered with fine webbing and a pale, dusty appearance where mites feed.
How does a strawberry leaf infested with a mite look? - in detail
A strawberry leaf that has been attacked by mites displays several unmistakable visual cues. The upper surface often turns pale or yellowish, sometimes developing a mottled pattern where healthy tissue intermixes with discolored patches. Fine, web‑like silk may be present, especially along the leaf margins and in the leaf axils, indicating active feeding sites.
The leaf edges can appear ragged or slightly curled, a result of cellular damage caused by the mites’ piercing‑sucking mouthparts. Small, rounded spots—typically 0.5–1 mm in diameter—appear where the mites have withdrawn plant fluids, creating a stippled texture that can be felt under close inspection.
On the underside, the leaf may exhibit a dense concentration of tiny, moving specks. These are the mites themselves, usually 0.2–0.5 mm long, oval, and reddish‑brown. Their presence often coincides with a thin, translucent film that resembles dust.
Additional symptoms include:
- Stunted leaf growth, with new foliage remaining smaller than normal.
- Premature leaf drop, especially of the most heavily damaged leaves.
- Reduced vigor of the plant, evident by slower runner production and smaller fruit size.
When multiple leaves show these characteristics simultaneously, the infestation is likely severe and requires prompt management.