Outdoors, twospotted spider mites may overwinter as adults or continue to breed on host plants in mild winters or indoors. Adults lay clear to yellowish spherical eggs, often suspended in a fine web of silk on the undersides of host plant leaves. Spotless, clear greenish to brownish six legged nymphal stages hatch from eggs and develop into 8 legged nymphs as they molt two more times. Adult male and female mites mate soon after emerging from the last nymphal stage. Generation from egg to adult occurs in 5 to 20 days, depending upon temperature.
Many generations can occur per year.
On light to moderately infested leaves, stipples are concentrated around the leave's midrib and larger veins. Leaves on more heavily injured plants can become yellowed, bronze and fall off. All stages occur primarily on the undersides of leaves. For additional information, contact your local Texas extension service agent, or search for other state extension service offices.