What does a spider mite look like on petunias? - briefly
Spider mites appear as minute, almost invisible specks—typically pale yellow, green, or reddish—covering the undersides of petunia leaves, often accompanied by fine silk webbing and a stippled, mottled leaf surface. Their presence is indicated by tiny moving dots that may cluster in colonies, especially under warm, dry conditions.
What does a spider mite look like on petunias? - in detail
Spider mites that infest petunias are extremely small arachnids, usually measuring 0.2–0.5 mm in length. Their bodies are oval and flattened, allowing them to hide on the underside of leaves. Coloration ranges from pale yellow to light green, sometimes appearing almost translucent, which makes them difficult to spot without magnification.
Key visual indicators include:
- Minute specks of webbing, often a fine silk that covers leaf margins and stems.
- Stippled or stippled foliage, where tiny, pale spots coalesce into a bronzed or stippled pattern.
- A stippled “bronzing” effect on leaf surfaces, caused by the removal of chlorophyll as the mites feed.
- Presence of tiny moving dots when the leaf is examined closely, especially under a hand lens or magnifying glass.
The damage progresses from discrete yellow spots to larger patches of dead tissue. In severe infestations, leaves may curl upward, become brittle, and eventually drop. The webbing is most evident on the leaf undersides, where colonies congregate and reproduce. Detecting these signs early prevents extensive loss of foliage and flowering.