Where does a spider mite live? - briefly
Spider mites reside mainly on the undersides of leaves, feeding on plant sap, and can also colonize stems, buds, and fruit of many herbaceous and woody species. They thrive in warm, dry conditions typical of greenhouses, gardens, and indoor plant collections.
Where does a spider mite live? - in detail
Spider mites are most commonly found on the aerial parts of plants. They colonize the undersides of leaves, where they feed on cell contents and construct fine silk webs. The webbing protects the colony and traps moisture, allowing the mites to thrive in dry, warm conditions. Typical plant hosts include:
- Vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and beans.
- Fruit trees like citrus, apple, and peach.
- Ornamental shrubs and houseplants, especially those with dense foliage.
- Greenhouse-grown seedlings and cuttings.
Within a single plant, spider mites concentrate in areas with high surface temperature and low relative humidity. They prefer leaf margins, veins, and stomatal openings, which provide easy access to sap. On heavily infested foliage, webs become visible as a pale, spider‑like mesh covering the leaf surface.
Outside the plant canopy, spider mites can survive in protected microhabitats. Overwintering occurs in leaf litter, bark crevices, or cracks in greenhouse structures. These refuges maintain sufficient humidity to prevent desiccation during cold periods. When favorable conditions return—temperatures above 20 °C (68 °F) and low humidity—populations expand rapidly, dispersing by wind currents, human handling of plant material, or crawling to neighboring hosts.
Environmental factors influencing distribution include:
- Temperature: optimal development between 25 °C and 30 °C (77 °F–86 °F).
- Humidity: relative humidity below 60 % accelerates reproduction; high humidity suppresses activity.
- Light intensity: bright, direct sunlight promotes faster growth.
- Host density: dense plantings facilitate rapid colonization.
In agricultural settings, spider mites are detected in field crops during dry spells, in greenhouse rows where ventilation is limited, and on indoor ornamental plants kept in heated rooms. Their presence is confirmed by visual inspection of leaf undersides for stippled discoloration, tiny moving specks, and the characteristic silk.