These are the spider mites, the false spider or flat mites, and the gall or eriophyid mites. Mites are not insects , but are more closely related to spiders and ticks. The gnathosoma includes only the mouthparts. The idiosoma is the remainder of the body and parallels the head, thorax and abdomen of insects. The following nymphal stages and the adult have four pairs of legs.
Spider mites are the most common mites attacking woody plants.
False spider mites and eriophyid mites are less common. Eriophyid mites exhibit great modification of body structure. They have only two pair of legs, as the four rear legs are absent. The eriophyid mites are microscopic, elongate, spindle-shaped, translucent, and the abdomen usually has transverse rings present. Acaphylla steinwedeni on camellia Eriophyes buceras on black olive Paracalacarus podocarpi on podocarpus Phytoptus canestrinii on boxwood Trisetacus quadrisetus on juniper Biology Spider mite development differs somewhat between species but a typical life cycle is as follows.