Tomato Spider Mites

Natural Habitat

Agricultural fields, gardens, and greenhouses, particularly on the undersides of leaves on host plants like tomatoes.

Diet & Feeding

Plant cell contents; they use piercing-sucking mouthparts to drain the sap from individual leaf cells.

Behavior Patterns

They reproduce rapidly in hot, dry conditions and produce fine silk webbing to protect the colony and move between plants. Heavy infestations cause stippling (tiny yellow dots) on leaves.

Risks & Benefits

Significant agricultural pests that can cause leaves to yellow, dry up, and drop, potentially killing the plant. They do not pose a direct risk to humans.

Identified on: 6/9/2026