Michigan State University Extension
Ornamental Plants plus Version 3.0 - 00001750
11/12/99
Spider Mites
Spider mites are extremely small but can cause much
damage.
On most mites overwinter as eggs which hatch in the
spring. An exception is the honeylocust spider mite that
overwinters as an adult female. All overwintering stages
are found in protected places on the host. In the spring
the eggs hatch or are laid. The immature mites go through
several stages before becoming adult. There can be
several generations per year allowing the build up of
large populations.
The injury becomes most obvious first on older foliage.
Infested foliage has a speckled appearance and appears to
be losing its green coloration. Heavy mite infestations
will form fine webbing. The honeylocust spider mite will
cause the foliage to turn yellow as though it were fall.
Spider mite detection is difficult. Foliage suspected to
be infested can be examined with a microscope. Holding a
white piece of paper under a branch suspected to be
infested and shaking the branch may dislodge mites. The
mites will appear as moving specks on the paper.
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This file was generated from data base ZZ on 01/19/00.
Data base ZZ was last revised on 11/12/99.
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