Juniper-Tree Mites

Spider mites can be a serious problem for juniper trees, among other plants. They are tiny arachnids, relatives of the more traditional spiders you may encounter in your house or yard. They survive by feeding off your juniper trees and other plants.

  1. Size and Coloring

    • Spider mites are tiny, barely visible to the naked eye. Often bearing red, brown, green or yellow coloring, their bodies can actually change color with the seasons.

    What They Do

    • Spider mites infest plants in large groups. According to treehelp.com, they feed on plant leaves by sucking the sap using tiny mouth parts. This can kill or, at the very least, cause serious damage to your juniper trees.

    Classifications

    • There are a number of different types of spider mites. Olygonychus subnudus is a spider mite that tends to infest pines, while Olygonychus ununguis (the spruce spider mite) generally infests spruce and juniper trees. If you have a spider-mite problem in your juniper trees, these guys could very well be the culprits.

    Symptoms

    • Your tree, if infested by spider mites, will often show certain symptoms. According to treehelp.com, these symptoms include "flecking, discoloration, and scorching of leaves." A sudden, unseasonal dropping of leaves could also indicate spider-mite infestation.

    A Conundrum

    • One thing that can increase spider-mite populations is the use of pesticides. These pesticides often kill their natural insect predators, which can lead to an explosion in spider-mite numbers. Some pesticides, however, are effective in killing spider mites. These include Orthene, Avid, Talstar and Cygon.