How to Manage Pests

UC Pest Management Guidelines

DESCRIPTION OF THE PEST

Eggs of the twospotted spider mite are round, clear, and colorless when laid, but become pearly white when ready to hatch. Nymphs and adults are egg-shaped and generally yellow or greenish in color. On each side of their bodies are one or more dark spots; the top of the abdomen is free of spots. Twospotted mites are generally found in small colonies on the underside of mature pepper leaves in late summer.

DAMAGE

Twospotted mites are not damaging to peppers in California production areas. They seem to prefer other solanaceous crops, such as eggplant, more than peppers.

MANAGEMENT

Mites are not a major problem on peppers and treatments are generally not required.

PUBLICATION

UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines: Peppers
UC ANR Publication 3460
Insects and Mites
E. T. Natwick, UC Cooperative Extension Imperial County
J. T. Trumble, Entomology, UC Riverside
Acknowledgment for contributions to Insects and Mites:
W. J. Bentley, UC IPM Program, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
R. L. Coviello, UC Cooperative Extension, Fresno County
C. G. Summers, Kearney Agricultural Center, Parlier
W. E. Chaney, UC Cooperative Extension, Monterey County
C. F. Fouche, UC Cooperative Extension, San Joaquin County

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