Names link to more information on identification and management.
Click on photos to enlarge
| Citrus red mite |
Citrus red mite leaf stippling
Identification tip: Bleached or stippled
leaves are most often caused by citrus red mite feeding.
Other spider mites (family Tetranychidae) also feed on
citrus so examine discolored tissue under magnification
to distinguish the species causing damage.
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Citrus red mite fruit stippling
Identification tip: Stippling or silvering
(on the left navel) occurs when high populations of citrus
red mite feed on fruit. Twospotted mite and Yuma spider
mite feeding also discolor fruit.
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Citrus red mite nymph and eggs
Identification tip: Citrus red mite eggs are red. The mites are mostly
reddish with dark mottling. |
Citrus red mite female
Identification tip: Long, white bristles arise from bumps on the
back and sides of this reddish mite. |
| Texas citrus mite – Top
of page |
Texas citrus mite damage
Identification tip: Pale chlorosis or bleaching
develops on the upperside of leaves where Texas citrus
mites feed. Heavy feeding causes premature leaf drop, often
leaving only the leaf petioles remaining on stems.
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Texas citrus mite adult male (left) and immature female
Identification tip: The male has long legs and a triangular, brownish
green body with dark blotches. This immature female is about to molt into an
adult. Unlike twospotted and Yuma spider mites, Texas citrus mite colonies produce
little webbing.
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Texas
citrus mite eggs
Identification tip: Texas citrus mite eggs
change from yellow when laid to reddish brown before
hatching. From the top (as shown) eggs appear round.
Viewed from their side, eggs are somewhat flattened or
disc shaped. Unlike citrus red mite, Texas citrus mite
eggs have no stalk or fibrils on top.
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Texas citrus mite females and nymphs
Identification tip: Females are oval, brownish
green with dark blotches, and have shorter legs than
males. When feeding, Texas citrus mites characteristically
extend their legs straight forward and
straight backward parallel to the leaf surface, and usually
line up along the leaf vein.
|
| Twospotted spider mite – Top
of page |
Twospotted spider mite damage
Identification tip: Pale yellow to brown dead patches
(necrosis) can develop in leaf tissue where a colony of twospotted
mites have fed. |
Twospotted spider mite adult female and nymphs
Identification tip: Twospotted spider mite can range from yellowish
to green to red and usually has two irregular dark blotches on the sides of its
body. |
Twospotted spider mite eggs
Identification tip: The round eggs are translucent
(clear and shiny) when laid, then turn opaque (whitish or milky)
before hatching. Eggs often occur among, or are attached to,
silk strands.
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Twospotted spider mite webbing
Identification tip: When twospotted mites are abundant,
they produce abundant webbing that can cover leaves and fruit.
The fruit rind may be bleached, pale, or discolored silverish.
|
Twospotted spider mite adult
male
Identification tip: The twospotted mite
adult male's abdomen narrows toward the rear. The
male's body is smaller overall in comparison with
the larger and more rounded female pictured in the photo
above.
|
Spider mite egg (top) and a predatory
mite egg
Identification tip: Predatory mite eggs
are oblong and often occur near the round eggs of their
pest mite hosts.
|
| Yuma
spider mite – Top of page |
Yuma spider mite damage
Identification tip: Yuma spider mite feeds mostly
on the underside of leaves and produces substantial silk webbing. |
Yuma spider mite damage
Identification tip: As with twospotted spider mite,
Yuma spider mite can web both leaves and fruit. Hydrangea mite,
reported only in southern California, webs fruit but not leaves.
Examine the mites themselves under magnification to distinguish
these species. |
Yuma spider mite adults, nymphs, and eggs
Identification tip: All stages of Yuma spider mite
are typically a uniform peach color and have a shiny appearance.
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