Description
Spider mites are mites with four pairs of legs and stylet-like mouthparts. They are on average 0.15–1.0 mm long. The larvae mostly resemble the adults and, like them, feed on the leaves and shoot tips.
They are barely visible to the naked eye. They spread quickly over the whole plant, which turns yellow and yellowish-grey.
Both adults and larvae feed on the same parts of the plant. They suck sap from the leaves, which then die and drop. Fine webbing can be seen on the undersides of the attacked leaves.
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Control
Spider mites can be controlled biologically with predatory mites, or with chemical products. Apply the product three times in a row at ten-day intervals, so that not only the adult mites but also their larvae are destroyed.