greenhouse red spider mite, Tetranychus sp. , on a leaf of the plant Weigela florida. A plant parasite and economic pest, this mite is found on vegetable crops, fruit trees & flowers. It feeds on sap from leaves, causing them to mottle, turn yellow and fall off. Spider mites spin a web across the leaf surface that secures them & protects them aginst predators. The mites are chemically controlled using organophosphorus , although some resistance has developed. Another method is biological control using a natural predator, a mite called Phytoseiulus persimilis. Magnification: x48 at 35mm, x80 at 6x4.5cm size.