What does a spider mite look like on a cactus? - briefly
Spider mites appear as microscopic, oval‑shaped arachnids, usually 0.2–0.5 mm long, with translucent green, yellow, or reddish bodies and fine, hair‑like legs. They are often identified by fine silken webs covering the cactus surface and stippled, yellow‑brown spotting where they feed.
What does a spider mite look like on a cactus? - in detail
Spider mites on cacti are microscopic arachnids, typically 0.3–0.5 mm in length, rendering them invisible to the naked eye unless a dense infestation occurs. Their bodies are oval, soft, and translucent, often appearing pale green, yellow, or reddish under magnification. Legs are eight, slender, and setose, allowing movement across the plant’s waxy surface.
Key visual indicators of an infestation include:
- Fine, web‑like silk strands stretched between spines, buds, and pads; webs are usually white to pale gray.
- Discolored or stippled tissue where mites feed, creating a mosaic of yellow, bronze, or brown spots.
- Minute, pin‑point specks that may be seen as tiny moving dots when examined closely with a hand lens.
- Premature leaf drop or necrotic patches, especially near the cactus apex where feeding pressure is highest.
Under a 10× hand lens, individual mites can be distinguished by their segmented bodies and the presence of two pairs of sensory hairs on the front legs. Their eggs are oval, smooth, and attached to the cactus surface in clusters of 3–5, often concealed by the webbing.
Recognition of these characteristics enables early detection and targeted control measures before the population reaches damaging levels.