Fruit tree red spider mite

Editorial diagnosis

Diagnosis overview

Fruit tree spider mites are specialised mites on fruit trees, causing stippling and leaf stress.

In gardens, Fruit tree red spider mite can occur on plants including Aronia, Apricot, Sorbus domestica. In the available profiles, it is linked mainly with Berries, Pome fruit, Stone fruit.

Its importance depends on how quickly it spreads and whether seedlings, shoot tips, flowers, or fruit are affected. Protect beneficials and avoid drought stress in fruit trees.

Inspect leaf undersides, shoot tips, and the soil around the plant at different times of day. Eggs, larvae, droppings, webbing, or slime trails are often more diagnostic than one damaged leaf.

A common mistake is to treat feeding damage without checking the animal, eggs, larvae, time of activity, and affected plant parts.