Plant Symptom Chart

Pest · 4 symptoms · 3 Extension services

Spider mites: what the symptom points to

Start with what you're seeing on the leaves, then compare how Clemson, Colorado State, and Wisconsin Extension describe that look to find which spider mite problem fits best.

Compared here: Clemson Cooperative Extension, Colorado State University Extension, University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension. Last checked 2026-09-27.

01Yellowing leaves

Possible causeClemsonColorado StateWisconsin
Spider mites
Clemson Cooperative Extension says heavily infested plants take on a faded, yellowish or grayish look. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites
Colorado State University Extension says after a severe infestation, leaves become discolored, giving the plant an unhealthy gray or bronze look. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Spider Mites
No matching line in the Wisconsin pages we checked.
Twospotted spider mite No matching line in the Clemson pages we checked.No matching line in the Colorado State pages we checked.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says once the chlorophyll is gone, those empty leaf cells look whitish or bronze. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae

02Spots on leaves

Possible causeClemsonColorado StateWisconsin
Spider mites
Clemson Cooperative Extension says the most noticeable sign of a spider mite problem is white stippling on the leaves. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites
Colorado State University Extension says damaged areas typically show up as many small, light flecks, giving the leaf a speckled look. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Spider Mites
No matching line in the Wisconsin pages we checked.
Twospotted spider mite No matching line in the Clemson pages we checked.No matching line in the Colorado State pages we checked.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says the first sign of a twospotted spider mite infestation is usually a pale, stippled look on the leaves, though it may be less obvious on thick-leaved plants. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae

03Insects you can see

Possible causeClemsonColorado StateWisconsin
Spider mites
Clemson Cooperative Extension says the name spider mite comes from the fine silk webbing they spin, much like a spider. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites
Clemson Cooperative Extension says when infestations are severe, plants get covered with a thin layer of webbing made by the large numbers of mites. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites
Colorado State University Extension says spider mites are small and often hard to see with the naked eye. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Spider Mites
Colorado State University Extension says spider mite color ranges from red and brown to yellow and green, depending on the species and the season. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Spider Mites
Colorado State University Extension says many spider mites spin webbing, especially when their numbers are high. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Spider Mites
No matching line in the Wisconsin pages we checked.
Twospotted spider mite
Clemson Cooperative Extension says twospotted spider mites are easy to identify by two spots on their backs that look like little saddle bags. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites
No matching line in the Colorado State pages we checked.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says twospotted spider mites are barely visible to the naked eye, usually only about 1/50 inch long when mature, appearing as tiny specks on leaves and stems. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says twospotted spider mites range in color from light yellow or green to dark green or brown, and can sometimes be bright red. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says adult twospotted spider mites all have two dark spots visible on the abdomen. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says spider mites also spin fine silken webs, which they crawl over. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae
Southern red mite
Clemson Cooperative Extension says southern red mites are easy to spot because of their red body color. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites
No matching line in the Colorado State pages we checked.No matching line in the Wisconsin pages we checked.

04Wilting or dying back

Possible causeClemsonColorado StateWisconsin
Spruce spider mite
Clemson Cooperative Extension says plants infested with spruce spider mites often take on a brownish look. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Integrated Pest Management (I.P.M.) for Spider Mites
No matching line in the Colorado State pages we checked.No matching line in the Wisconsin pages we checked.
Spider mites No matching line in the Clemson pages we checked.
Colorado State University Extension says leaves and needles may eventually drop off the plant early. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Spider Mites
No matching line in the Wisconsin pages we checked.
Twospotted spider mite No matching line in the Clemson pages we checked.No matching line in the Colorado State pages we checked.
University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says heavily infested leaves turn completely pale, dry up, and fall off the plant. Source page, read 2026-09-27: Twospotted Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae

What to do about it. This site only covers how to recognize a problem. For what to do next, open the Extension page linked in the row: their advice is written for their region and is kept up to date by them.

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