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Mites are small, almost microscopic arthropods with eight legs. When they feed on leaves the leaves turn brown and dry out. Some mites transmit plant diseases and others can feed in between leaf layers like leafminers.

  Two-spotted spider mites

One of the most common mites is the two- spotted spider mite. They are greenish yellow with a dark spot on either side of the body. They feed on broadleaf plants and evergreens and tend to like stressed plants and hot dry areas. Numbers can increase rapidly and plants can be killed if not monitored for this mite.

  Spruce spider mite damage

All spruce and many pines, arbovitae, firs, and junipers are attacked by the spruce spider mite. It is similar in apppearance to the two-spotted mite. Affected needles will at first have yellow spots from mite feeding but soon the spots coalesce and entire needles and needle bundles will be turned yellow from mite feeding. 

  Clover mite

Clover mites appear very early in the spring and attack the first seedlings to come up. The front legs are much longer than the others with this mite. They are reddish brown and invade homes in the fall looking for a warm place to spend the winter.

  Eriophyid mite

Eriophyiid mites are spindle shaped and microscopic in size. They transmit many diseases and cause galls to form on many of their host plants.

  Eriophyid mite gall or irregular growth

Many plants will get hairy, spiny, or convoluted growths stimulated by eriophyid mite feeding.

  Pear leaf blister mite

The pear leaf blister mite is also an eriophyid mite. It feeds on ornamental fruit trees causing dark brown spots where they feed. The mite can be found under the top layer of leaf surface. They can be so numerous as to cause the entire leaf surface to turn black.