Tetranychid Mite (commonly known as Spider Mite)
Scientific Name: Tetranychidae spp.
Order & Family: Order: Trombidiformes; Family: Tetranychidae
Size: Extremely small, usually less than 1 millimeter (about 1/50th of an inch) in length.
Natural Habitat
Typically found on the undersides of leaves in gardens, greenhouses, and on indoor houseplants.
Diet & Feeding
Herbivorous. They feed by piercing plant cells with their mouthparts and sucking out the contents (chlorophyll).
Behavior Patterns
They often live in colonies and are known for spinning fine silk webs to protect themselves and their eggs. They reproduce very quickly in hot, dry conditions.
Risks & Benefits
Risks: They are significant agricultural and horticultural pests that can cause yellowing, spotting, and eventual death of plants. Benefits: None to humans; they serve as a food source for predatory mites and some beneficial insects.
Identified on: 1/10/2026