Two-spotted spider mite
Scientific Name: Tetranychus urticae
Order & Family: Trombidiformes, Tetranychidae
Size: 0.3 to 0.5 mm in length
Natural Habitat
Agricultural crops, greenhouses, and gardens, especially on the underside of leaves
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous; they pierce plant cells to suck out chloroplasts, leading to stippling or yellowing of leaves
Behavior Patterns
They produce fine silk webbing to protect the colony and help with dispersal; they reproduce rapidly in hot, dry conditions
Risks & Benefits
Major agricultural pest that can significantly damage or kill host plants; no benefits to the ecosystem in a garden context
Identified on: 6/15/2026