Because spider mites are very small, they can be difficult to see on plants. You can determine the presence of mites by holding a piece of white paper underneath a branch or shoot and shake or tap the branch sharply. If mites are present, some will be dislodged from the leaves and fall onto the paper, where they will be seen as tiny moving specks.

Small brown or yellow dots on the leaves of a plant are the most easily observed sign of a mite infestation.  As feeding continues, the leaves turn yellow or bronze in color and drop off.   Heavily infested leaves and branches can be enclosed in fine silken webbing.  As feeding continues, the leaves turn yellow or bronze in color and drop off. On annual vegetable plants, the loss of leaves can have a serious, immediate impact on production.

Garden plants that are typically susceptible to mites are asparagus, beans, melons and squash, peas, tomatoes and strawberries. Some landscaped trees and shrubs that are often attacked are arborvitae, azalea, crabapple, rose, spruce and walnut.

Spider mites flourish on plants under stress. Keep plants well watered and fertilized, because damage is increased when the plant does not receive sufficient water.

Control Products

Bonide Mite-X
All natural, broad spectrum, indoor/outdoor effective mite control on vegetables, fruit, nuts, vine crops, shrubs, berries, herbs, spices, ornamentals, evergreens, greenhouse plants and interior plants. Safe for use around children and pets. Also kills aphids and thrips. Pleasant odor. Active ingredient: botanical extracts.

100% Organic Insecticide and Fungicide  Effective on  of mites and a wide variety insects, scales and certain fungal disease.  Target Pest: Organocide kills the eggs, larvae, and nymphs of insects and the adult stages of over 25 soft bodied insects including (but not limited to) aphids, citrus rust mites, leaf rollers, mealy bugs, scale insects, spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, and hemlock wooly adelgid.  Organocide controls certain fungal diseases such as (but not limited to) powdery mildew, black spot on roses, helminthosporium and citus greasy spot.  Safe for use in and around the home, pets, people and environment.  OMRI Listed. (Organic Materials Review Institute).  Produced by Organic Laboratories, Inc.