{"id":26411,"date":"2022-03-30T22:50:29","date_gmt":"2022-03-30T22:50:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/divi-agbio\/?post_type=ipm-pests&p=26411"},"modified":"2025-06-18T21:26:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T21:26:31","slug":"spider-mite","status":"publish","type":"ipm-pests","link":"https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/agbio\/ipm-pests\/spider-mite\/","title":{"rendered":"Spider mites"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Twospotted spider mite,\u00a0Tetranychus urticae<\/em><\/h1>\n

Order: Acari<\/span>
Family: Tetranychidae<\/span><\/p>\n

Description<\/h2>\n

Spider mites are small arachnids that are difficult to see without magnification. The twospotted spider mite is the most common spider mite infesting vegetables. Adult females are about 0.4 mm long and have four pairs of legs, no antennae, and a pair of red eyespots on the head. Their oval-shaped bodies range in color from green to yellow when active, or bright orange during dormant periods. Under magnification, two dark blotches are visible on either side of the adult\u2019s body. Males have similar body shape and coloration as females but are smaller.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The eggs of twospotted spider mite are 0.14 mm long yellow or translucent balls. The larvae are about the size of eggs, have three pairs of legs, and are light yellow with rounded bodies. The coloration of nymphs varies from light yellow or green, to red or orange. The nymphs are smaller than adults but also have four pairs of legs and two dark spots on the body.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many spider mite species produce webbing when their populations are high, which protects them from natural enemies and environmental fluctuations. Webs also help spider mites disperse to new hosts. <\/span>The presence of webbing is a useful indicator for distinguishing spider mites from other vegetable pests such as aphids and <\/span>thrips<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Two-spotted spider mite and eggs. Image credit: Bruce Watt, University of Maine, Bugwood.org<\/em><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_blurb image=”https:\/\/agsci.colostate.edu\/agbio\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/127\/2025\/04\/Pecan-infested-TSSM.jpg” alt=”Two-spotted spider mite injury and webbing” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” body_line_height=”1.4em” image_icon_custom_margin=”||-22px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Pecan infested with twospotted spider mite. Note the presence of webbing. Image credit: Louis Tedders, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org.<\/em><\/p>\n

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