Page 110 - Florida Pest Control Examinations

TWOSPOTTED SPIDER MITE TWOSPOTTED SPIDER MITE
SPIDER MITE

Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

1.Antenna- none 6.Thorax- none
2.Eyes 7.Petiole- none MITE
3.Head-gnathosoma 8.Idiosoma 8
4.Legs- 8 9.Color- brownish to blackish
5.Wings- none 10.Other- tiny, related to ticks, spiders, and
chiggers 3
Life Cycle
Mites go through a rapid life cycle, usually taking only 2-3 weeks to
complete. Hundreds of eggs can be produced, which hatch in around
a week. Larvae and nymphs, which may go through one or more 4
instars, only take another week or two to develop. This results in large
populations in a minimal time. Photo Courtesy of UNIVAR

MITES Actual size 1/32”

Mites are a close relative to spiders, with eight legs. There are many varieties of mites, some
affect man, others infest birds and/or animals. They can also infest agricultural products and
crops, and even live in the soil. Spider mites, Broad mites, and Bermudagrass mites are
common pests in Florida. The citrus industry has problems with the Citrus Red mite, Red &
Black Flat mite, Six-Spotted mite, and Texas Citrus mite. Florida palms are attacked by both
the Red Palm mite and Coconut mite. Some mites are parasites and cause problems for
humans, but do not try to diagnose insect bites on a person—this is a job for a doctor.

Spider Mites:
Spider mites are extremely tiny, and get their name from the silken webs they leave on the
underside of leaves. They can be white, red, or green in color. They cause damage by
sucking the sap from plants, especially citrus. There are many varieties of Spider mites, the
most common mites in Florida. By far the biggest problem is the Twospotted Spider Mite. It
attacks over 200 species of plants.

Bermudagrass Mites:
This mite is a serious pest for Bermudagrass. The first sign of infestation is a slight yellowing
and twisting of the leaves. Adults are elongated, and are worm-like in appearance.

110