What does a spider mite look like on zucchini? - briefly
Spider mites are microscopic, pale‑green to yellowish specks that resemble dust and are often found on the undersides of zucchini leaves and stems, sometimes accompanied by fine webbing. Infested foliage shows stippling—tiny yellow dots where the mites feed—and the webbing becomes more apparent as the infestation increases.
What does a spider mite look like on zucchini? - in detail
Spider mites on zucchini appear as tiny, elongated arachnids, usually 0.2–0.4 mm long. Their bodies are oval‑shaped and translucent, ranging from pale yellow to light green, often making them difficult to see without magnification. The legs are long and slender, matching the body color, and the dorsal surface may show faintly visible setae (bristles) that give a slightly fuzzy outline.
Key visual signs on the plant include:
- Stippled leaf surfaces: tiny, pale specks where mites feed, giving a stippled or sand‑blasted look.
- Webbing: fine, silvery threads stretched between leaf veins, stems, and fruit; webs are most noticeable on the undersides of leaves.
- Leaf discoloration: yellowing or bronzing of foliage that progresses from the leaf edges toward the center, often forming a mottled pattern.
- Stunted growth: new leaves appear smaller and deformed, with curled or cupped edges.
- Fruit damage: small, irregularly shaped lesions on zucchini skin, sometimes accompanied by a dusty web coating.
Under a magnifying lens, individual mites can be distinguished by their four pairs of legs and a pair of sensory hairs near the front. Adult females are typically larger and more robust than males, which are slimmer and less conspicuous. Eggs appear as minute, oval shells glued to leaf undersides, often in clusters of 10–30.
Identifying these characteristics promptly allows for early intervention before infestations spread throughout the crop.