What do cucumbers look like when infested with spider mites? - briefly
Infested cucumbers display stippled, yellow‑green speckles on the surface and may have tiny white or rust‑colored dots where mites cluster. Leaves often show fine webbing and a dusty, silver‑gray coating.
What do cucumbers look like when infested with spider mites? - in detail
Cucumbers attacked by spider mites show a distinct pattern of damage that progresses from subtle discoloration to severe tissue collapse.
The foliage often exhibits a mottled, pale‑green to yellow speckling known as stippling. The tiny feeding punctures cause individual cells to lose chlorophyll, producing a fine, stippled texture visible without magnification. As the infestation intensifies, the leaf surface becomes increasingly bronzed and may develop a dusty, rust‑colored coating of mite excrement (frass).
Webbing is another reliable indicator. Fine, silky strands appear on the undersides of leaves, around petioles, and sometimes on the fruit itself. The webs are usually thin enough to be brushed aside but dense enough to trap dust and spores.
Fruit symptoms differ from leaf damage but are equally diagnostic. Infected cucumbers display:
- Small, irregularly shaped chlorotic spots that expand into larger, pale patches.
- A stippled surface that feels slightly rough when touched.
- Thin, white to amber webs covering the fruit’s skin, especially near the blossom end.
- Premature wilting or collapse of sections, leading to soft, water‑logged tissue that may rot if left unchecked.
The overall plant may exhibit stunted growth, reduced vigor, and a general decline in yield. Early detection relies on inspecting the undersides of leaves for stippling and webbing; later stages reveal extensive bronzing and severe leaf loss. Prompt intervention, such as targeted miticides or biological controls, can halt the progression before fruit quality deteriorates.