Spider mites are extremely small pests that are related to spiders and ticks.
They are oval shaped, reddish-brown, and have eight legs instead of the six most insects have. Spider mites pierce the undersides of leaves and suck out the contents of individual plant cells. As damaged cells die, leaf surfaces become finely speckled. Although these insects are easy to overlook in small numbers, careful inspection of plant parts with a magnifying lens or a gentle shaking of the leaves and branches over a piece of white paper can reveal mite activity. Adult females lay more than 100 eggs at a time.