Spider Mite

Scientific Name: Tetranychus urticae (Two-spotted spider mite) or other species within Tetranychidae are common

Order & Family: Order: Trombidiformes, Family: Tetranychidae

Size: Typically 0.2 to 0.5 mm (0.008 to 0.02 inches) long, making them barely visible to the naked eye.

Spider Mite

Natural Habitat

Spider mites are found on a wide variety of plants, indoors (houseplants) and outdoors (garden plants, trees, shrubs, agricultural crops). They prefer hot, dry conditions.

Diet & Feeding

Spider mites are plant sap feeders. They use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract cell contents from various parts of plants, primarily leaves, but also stems and fruit.

Behavior Patterns

Spider mites are known for spinning fine silk webs, especially when populations are high. They typically feed on the undersides of leaves, and their presence can be detected by stippling (tiny pale dots) on the leaves or by the webbing itself. They reproduce rapidly, especially in warm, dry conditions, leading to quick population explosions.

Risks & Benefits

Risks: Spider mites are significant agricultural and horticultural pests. Heavy infestations can cause significant damage to plants, including yellowing, stippling, leaf distortion, reduced growth, and even plant death. Benefits: In certain limited ecological contexts, they can serve as a food source for predatory insects or mites, but their pest status far outweighs any benefits in controlled environments.

Identified on: 7/1/2025