Spider mite populations can become large in a short period of time. Spider mites damage plants by piercing and sucking the contents of cells, which results in speckling on leaves as the cells turn yellow and die. Although most mites are on the undersides of leaves, the damage is visible on both leaf surfaces. As damage increases, the whole leaf may turn yellow and wither. Spider mites prefer hot and dry conditions, therefore lowering temperatures and increasing humidity can reduce the pest mite population. Clean off any webbing with soap spray and damp cloth. All this should be done before the introduction of predatory mites and insects.
