Spider Mites

About Spider Mites

Lives on spruce, pine, honey locust, elm, linden, and other conifer and hardwood trees and shrubs.  The tiny arthropods are less than 1 mm long and vary in color from yellow to red to green.

Mites overwinter as eggs on the tree.  There are many generations per year.  Mites feed on sap and spin a fine silk webbing among needles (or leaves).

The damaged needles (or leaves) become stippled, bleached, and brown, and may fall off.  Severely infested trees are less vigorous and occasionally may be killed.

To Control

Spray trees thoroughly with diazinon, cyhexatin, malathion, chlorpyrifos, or tetradifon as soon as mite damage appears during April or May.  Repeat every 10 to 14 days as needed.