What does a cucumber leaf infected with spider mites look like? - briefly
The leaf displays a stippled, yellow‑white discoloration on the upper surface, often accompanied by fine webbing and tiny moving specks along the veins. As feeding continues, the foliage may turn bronzed, curl, and develop dead patches.
What does a cucumber leaf infected with spider mites look like? - in detail
A cucumber leaf that is being attacked by spider mites displays several distinct visual cues. The surface becomes speckled with tiny, pale‑green or yellow spots where individual mites have pierced cells and removed chlorophyll. As feeding continues, the stippling expands into larger, irregularly shaped bronze‑to‑gray patches that may coalesce, giving the leaf a mottled appearance. The affected tissue often turns yellow or light brown, beginning at the leaf margins and moving inward.
Leaf edges may curl downward or upward, and the overall leaf can become distorted, with a slightly wilted or leathery texture. Fine, silk‑like webbing is frequently visible on the undersides of the leaf and in the axils where leaf veins intersect; this web is most evident when mite populations are high. In severe cases, entire leaf sections may die, leaving necrotic, brown dead zones that eventually fall off.
Key visual indicators include:
- Stippling: minute, translucent spots caused by cell damage.
- Bronzing: dull, metallic discoloration of larger leaf areas.
- Yellowing: chlorosis that starts at the margins and spreads inward.
- Curling: edges twist or roll, reducing photosynthetic surface.
- Webbing: fine silk threads, especially on the underside.
- Necrosis: brown, dead patches that may detach.
The progression typically follows a pattern: initial stippling, followed by bronzing and curling, then web formation, and finally leaf death if the infestation is unchecked. Observing these signs early allows for timely intervention before the damage spreads to the entire plant.