What does a plant‑affecting mite look like? - briefly
Plant‑parasitic mites are microscopic arachnids, usually 0.1–0.5 mm long, with soft, oval bodies, eight legs, and coloration ranging from red to brown or yellow. They lack wings and possess sensory hairs on the front legs for detecting host plants.
What does a plant‑affecting mite look like? - in detail
Plant‑infesting mites are microscopic arachnids, typically ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm in length. Their bodies consist of two main regions: the gnathosoma (mouthparts) and the idiosoma (main body). The idiosoma is divided into the anterior prodorsal shield and the posterior opisthosomal region, each bearing distinct setae and sensory organs.
Key morphological traits include:
- Eight legs: Four pairs attached to the prodorsal region; legs are slender, sometimes bearing fine hairs (setae) that aid in locomotion on leaf surfaces.
- Setae patterns: Species exhibit characteristic arrangements of dorsal and ventral setae, useful for taxonomic identification.
- Coloration: Most are translucent to pale green, yellow, or reddish; some spider mites develop a darker hue when engorged with plant fluids.
- Mouthparts: Chelicerae are short and adapted for piercing plant tissue; the stylet penetrates epidermal cells to extract sap.
- Body shield: In many spider mites, the prodorsal shield is oval and covered with tiny punctate structures; eriophyid mites possess a reduced, elongated shield lacking distinct segmentation.
Variation among groups:
- Spider mites (Tetranychidae): Broad, oval bodies, well‑defined dorsal shield, conspicuous eyes on each side of the prodorsal region.
- Gall mites (Eriophyidae): Extremely elongated, worm‑like shape, reduced leg length, no eyes, and a soft, flexible cuticle.
- Broad mites (Tenuipalpidae): Flattened dorsoventrally, longer legs relative to body size, and a distinct ventral plate.
Microscopic examination with a stereomicroscope at 40–100× magnification reveals these features clearly. Accurate identification relies on the combination of body shape, setae arrangement, leg morphology, and shield structure.