What does a spider mite look like on strawberries? - briefly
Spider mites are microscopic, pale yellow‑to‑reddish specks that leave a fine, silvery web on the fruit surface. Infested strawberries show stippled yellow‑green spots and may develop bronzed, distorted edges where feeding occurs.
What does a spider mite look like on strawberries? - in detail
Spider mites on strawberry plants are tiny arthropods, typically 0.3–0.5 mm long, barely visible to the naked eye. Their bodies are oval, flat, and covered with fine hairs that give a silvery or light green sheen. Legs are short, six in total, and the dorsal surface often shows a faint pattern of red or brown pigment, especially in adult females.
The most reliable visual cues include:
- Webbing: Fine, silky threads forming a web on the leaf underside, sometimes extending to the fruit surface. Webs are most apparent when the infestation is heavy.
- Leaf discoloration: Small, pale stippling or yellow‑white spots where mites feed, creating a speckled appearance. Over time, spots may merge into larger chlorotic patches.
- Stippling pattern: Individual feeding sites appear as tiny, translucent dots, each corresponding to a mite’s mouthpart insertion.
- Fruit damage: On ripe berries, a fine web may coat the surface, and tiny, irregularly shaped scars may develop where mites have punctured the skin.
Mite populations concentrate on the lower leaf surface, where humidity is higher and predators are less active. Under magnification, the dorsal shield shows a series of setae (bristles) arranged in two rows, a diagnostic feature distinguishing spider mites from other small insects.
Effective identification relies on observing the combination of minute size, silvery‑green coloration, web presence, and characteristic stippling on foliage and fruit.