Southern Red Mite. Adult -The female adult is about 0.38 mm long and resembles a small spider. There is also a pale midstripe. Nymph -The nymph is similar to the adult male in color. . This spider mite, at times exceptionally destructive, is a common and serious pest throughout the eastern United States and in California.
Host Plants -Southern red mites seem to prefer azaleas, camellias, and hollies.
Plants in the Ericaceae and Aquifoliaceae seem to be especially susceptible. Damage -Southern red mites feed on the lower leaf surface, causing mesophyll collapse. If uncontrolled, southern red mites may hasten the death of a heavily infested plant. Life History -Southern red mites pass through a larval stage and a series of nymphal stages before they mature into adults. They usually feed on the lower surfaces of woody ornamental plants.