Mites

Occasionally, the two spotted spider mite infests potato fields. Mites are tiny, eight-legged creatures less than 1 mm long. They are difficult to see without a hand lens. Mites prefer to feed on the underside of leaves. They spin fragile webs on the leaves of plants growing along the dusty borders of a field. They damage plants by puncturing the leaf tissue with their mouth parts to extract plant juices.

Feeding injury causes mottling of leaves. As the damage increases, leaves turn brown or bronze, which results in reduced photosynthesis.