What does a spider mite look like on tomatoes? - briefly
The «spider mite» is a microscopic arachnid, 0.2–0.4 mm long, with a pale‑yellow to reddish body that blends with tomato foliage. Infested fruit displays stippled yellow lesions and a fine, silvery web covering leaves and tomatoes.
What does a spider mite look like on tomatoes? - in detail
Spider mites that infest tomato plants are tiny arachnids, typically measuring 0.2–0.5 mm in length. Their bodies are oval‑shaped and flattened, allowing them to hide on the lower leaf surface. Color varies with species and life stage: adult females often appear pale green to yellowish, while males may be reddish‑brown. Legs are long and slender, giving the mite a spidery silhouette when observed under magnification.
Visible damage includes stippling of the leaf tissue. Feeding creates a network of tiny, pale spots that coalesce into larger yellowish patches, eventually turning bronzed or brown as chlorophyll is destroyed. In severe infestations, the leaf surface becomes dusty, reflecting light like a fine powder. Webbing is a distinctive sign; fine silk strands connect leaf edges, stems, and fruit, especially in humid conditions. The web is most evident on the underside of leaves and around the calyx of developing tomatoes.
Additional diagnostic features:
- Presence of moving specks when the leaf is gently disturbed; spider mites dart quickly across the surface.
- Accumulation of excrement, appearing as tiny white or yellowish specks on the leaf.
- Early fruit damage manifests as small, stippled lesions on the tomato skin, which may expand and become necrotic if the population remains unchecked.
Identification relies on close inspection of the foliage underside, using a hand lens or microscope to confirm the mite’s morphology and the characteristic webbing. Prompt detection enables targeted control measures before the population overwhelms the crop.