What does spider mite look like on a rubber fig? - briefly
Spider mites are microscopic, pale‑green to yellowish insects about 0.2 mm long that congregate on the undersides of rubber‑fig leaves, creating stippled, yellow‑brown patches. In heavy infestations, fine silk webbing can be seen between leaf veins.
What does spider mite look like on a rubber fig? - in detail
Spider mites on a rubber plant appear as tiny, oval bodies measuring 0.2–0.5 mm. Their color ranges from pale yellow to reddish‑brown, often making them difficult to see without magnification. Individual mites move slowly across the leaf surface; groups may cluster in the undersides where humidity is higher.
Visible signs include:
- Speckled stippling: tiny, translucent dots where the mite has pierced the leaf tissue, giving a stippled or mottled appearance.
- Leaf discoloration: affected areas turn yellow, then progress to bronze or brown as chlorophyll is consumed.
- Webbing: fine, silk‑like strands form on the leaf underside, especially near the leaf veins and at leaf margins. Webs may also connect adjacent leaves or cover the plant’s stems.
- Leaf drop: severe infestations cause premature leaf shedding, beginning with the oldest foliage.
The pattern of damage is usually irregular, following the movement of the colony. Early infestations show only a few stippled spots; as the population expands, the stippling becomes dense, and the webbing becomes more extensive. Inspecting the leaf underside with a magnifying lens reveals the mites themselves and the web mesh. A healthy rubber plant exhibits uniform, glossy foliage without these symptoms.