What does a spider mite look like on cucumber leaves? - briefly
Spider mites are microscopic, pale‑to‑yellow specks that cluster on cucumber foliage, causing a stippled, bronze‑colored discoloration as they feed. Their activity is typically marked by fine webbing on the leaf undersides.
What does a spider mite look like on cucumber leaves? - in detail
Spider mites on cucumber foliage are minute arachnids, typically 0.2–0.5 mm long, barely visible to the naked eye. Their bodies are oval, flattened, and covered with fine, translucent hairs that give a silvery sheen. The dorsal surface displays two pairs of legs near the front and a third pair positioned midway along the abdomen, all ending in tiny claws that cling to leaf surfaces.
Coloration ranges from light yellow to pale green, occasionally appearing reddish when the population is dense. Under magnification, the legs and mouthparts are distinctly visible; the chelicerae are short and adapted for piercing plant tissue. Mites often cluster on the underside of leaves, forming tiny webs that appear as fine, webby threads spanning the leaf veins.
Key visual indicators include:
- Speckled stippling: Tiny, pale dots where chlorophyll has been extracted, giving the leaf a stippled appearance.
- Webbing: Fine, silk-like strands, especially along leaf margins and between veins.
- Leaf deformation: Curling, bronzing, or yellowing of affected areas, sometimes leading to leaf drop in severe infestations.
When examining a cucumber plant, locate the lower leaf surface, tilt the leaf to catch light, and use a hand lens or microscope at 20–40× magnification. The mite’s body will appear as a small, oval, semi‑transparent structure with two prominent eye spots at the front and a pair of elongated setae near the rear. The presence of numerous individuals creates a dense, stippled pattern, while isolated specimens may be mistaken for dust particles unless closely inspected.