What do cucumbers damaged by spider mites look like? - briefly
Cucumber foliage and fruit exhibit stippled, yellow‑green to bronze discoloration, often accompanied by tiny white feeding spots and fine webbing. The produce may become deformed, showing uneven skin, brown lesions, and reduced marketability.
What do cucumbers damaged by spider mites look like? - in detail
Cucumbers attacked by spider mites display a distinct set of visual symptoms that progress as the infestation intensifies. Early damage appears as tiny, pale specks on the fruit surface, often described as a stippled or mottled pattern. These spots are usually 1‑2 mm in diameter and may coalesce into larger, uneven patches. The affected areas frequently exhibit a bronzed or yellow‑green hue, contrasting sharply with the surrounding healthy tissue.
As the mite population grows, the fruit surface becomes rougher. The epidermis may develop a fine, sand‑like texture caused by the loss of tiny cells. In advanced stages, portions of the cucumber turn brown and dry, resembling a leather‑like rind. The tissue beneath the discoloration can become soft and watery, leading to localized rot if secondary pathogens invade.
Leaf damage provides additional clues. Leaves show a fine webbing on the undersides, with tiny, pale stipples that eventually turn bronze. When leaf photosynthesis is compromised, fruit growth slows, resulting in smaller, misshapen cucumbers with irregular curvature.
Key visual indicators include:
- Pale stippling on fruit skin, often in irregular clusters
- Bronzed or yellow‑green discoloration expanding outward
- Rough, sand‑like surface texture on affected zones
- Brown, leathery patches that may soften internally
- Presence of fine webbing and stippling on leaves
Recognition of these characteristics enables timely intervention to prevent further yield loss.