greenhouse red spider mite,Tetranychus sp. ,on a leaf of the plant Weigela florida. A plant parasite and economic pest,this mite is found on vegetable crops,fruit trees & flowers. It feeds on sap from leaves,causing them to mottle,turn yellow and fall off. Spider mites spin a web across the leaf surface that secures them & protects them aginst predators. The mites are chemically controlled using organophosphorus ,although some resistance has developed. Another method is biological control using a natural predator,a mite called Phytoseiulus persimilis. Magnification: x48 at 35mm,x80 at 6x4.5cm size |