Frequently, infestations include a mixture of spider mite species. Adult mites are about 0.06 inch in length, have four pairs of legs, are greenish to pink or cream colored, and have various sized black spots on the body. Under warm conditions spider mites move rapidly within the colony area. A generation may pass in as few as 5 to 7 days in mid-summer, or in a month during cool periods.
Spider mites produce webbing that is often filled with cast skins, dust, and other debris.
Loss of color is pronounced on the under surface of leaves before it becomes apparent on the upper side. Light infestations can be tolerated, but when heavy, can result in lowered yield and reduced quality of fruit. The western predatory mite is the same size as spider mites but lacks spots and ranges in color from cream to amber red. It is available commercially, but research has not been done on the effectiveness of releasing these predators in cucurbits. Sixspotted thrips and western flower thrips are also effective predators, but naturally-occurring populations of these insects generally do not develop to high enough levels that they can provide significant control until damage has already taken place.