They suck plant sap, usually from the undersides of the leaves, producing tiny, speckled spots on the leaves. Heavily infested plants can be enveloped by webs.
Warm temperatures produce more generations than cooler temperatures.
In the heat of mid-summer, mites can mature in as few as five to eight days. Theoretically, the number of mites from a single fertilized female could be 13 million in 30 days at 80 degrees F. Check for mites by tapping a leaf over a white sheet of paper and looking for tiny moving specks. Insecticidal soaps generally offer adequate control when applied before the numbers are too high. Make two applications five days apart. Mites can be removed with a strong spray of water.