What does a leaf look like when damaged by spider mites? - briefly
Infested foliage displays tiny, pale stipples that coalesce into a mottled yellow‑bronze pattern, often accompanied by fine silk webbing on the lower surface. The affected area may become distorted, with edges curling inward or upward.
What does a leaf look like when damaged by spider mites? - in detail
Spider mite feeding creates a distinct pattern of damage visible on foliage. The primary symptom is a stippled or speckled discoloration caused by the removal of chlorophyll from individual cells. Spots appear as tiny, pale‑green or yellowish dots that may coalesce into larger, irregularly shaped patches as the infestation progresses.
Secondary effects include a fine, silvery webbing that can be observed on the leaf surface, especially along the undersides and around the veins. The webbing is often thin enough to be missed without close inspection but becomes more apparent when a large population is present.
Physiological changes manifest as:
- Curling of leaf margins, sometimes forming a concave shape that reduces the leaf’s photosynthetic area.
- Browning or necrotic lesions at the edges of heavily damaged zones, indicating cell death.
- Premature leaf drop, where severely compromised leaves detach earlier than normal.
Microscopic examination reveals the presence of tiny, oval‑shaped mites (≈0.5 mm) clustered along the leaf veins. Their feeding punctures, called styliform piercings, are barely visible to the naked eye but result in the characteristic stippling pattern.
Overall, a leaf afflicted by spider mites displays a mosaic of light‑colored stippling, occasional silvery web, curled or distorted edges, and, in advanced cases, necrotic spots and early abscission. These visual cues enable rapid identification of the pest’s impact.