Spider Mites

I've decided to devote this week to landscape pests. The pest that I've chosen for today is the spider mite. Mites feed on many plants; the most affected plants in our area are burning bush, spruce and junipers.

Mites damage plants by sucking out plant juices with their piercing, sucking mouth parts. They often feed on the underside of the leaf, protected from direct sunlight. You can recognize mite damage by looking for stippling (pictured above). Stippling is the lighter green speckles that result from chlorophyll being sucked out of the leaf.

If infestations become too heavy, the entire plant may become bleached (above) and premature leaf drop may occur. Regular monitoring of susceptible plants can prevent this damage from occurring. If you need assistance controlling spider mites, give a tree company (like Ryan Lawn & Tree) a call.