What do eggplants look like when affected by spider mites? - briefly
Eggplants infested with spider mites show tiny yellow or bronze speckles on the foliage, often accompanied by fine webbing on the undersides of leaves, and the fruit may develop a mottled, pale discoloration with a stippled texture. Severe infestations cause leaf curling, premature leaf drop, and a general loss of vigor, making the plants appear stunted and discolored.
What do eggplants look like when affected by spider mites? - in detail
Eggplant foliage infested with spider mites shows a distinct pattern of damage. The upper leaf surface becomes speckled with tiny, translucent spots where the mites have pierced cells. These spots soon turn yellow or bronze, creating a stippled or mottled appearance that spreads outward from the leaf edges. As feeding continues, the leaf tissue collapses, forming a fine web of silk that is most visible on the undersides and between leaf veins. The web may be so dense that it traps dust and reduces photosynthesis.
Typical symptoms include:
- Leaf discoloration: uniform yellowing, bronzing, or a mixture of both, often beginning at the leaf margins.
- Stippling: minute, pale dots that coalesce into larger pale patches.
- Webbing: fine, silvery threads covering the lower leaf surface, sometimes extending to stems and fruit.
- Leaf curl: edges curl upward or inward as tissue loses turgor.
- Reduced vigor: overall plant growth slows, stems become thin, and fruit set diminishes.
In severe cases, entire leaves may dry out and drop, leaving a skeletonized canopy. The fruit itself usually remains unaffected directly, but the loss of leaf area can limit fruit size and quality. Early detection of the described visual cues allows timely intervention to prevent extensive damage.