A common symptom of spider mite infestation is?

• A. Webbing on leaves
• B. Yellowing of leaf margins
• C. Fine stippling or speckling on leaves
• D. Root galls on stems

Answer: (C)

Spider mites damage leaves by piercing individual cells and sucking out the contents, which leaves behind tiny, pale spots on the leaf surface. That fine speckling, or stippling, is the most common and recognizable symptom of a mite infestation. In heavier cases you might also see fine webbing across the leaves, but webbing isn’t always present. Other symptoms like yellowing along leaf margins can be caused by many problems, and root galls on stems aren’t produced by spider mites since these pests feed on foliage rather than roots or stems. Recognizing stippling early helps you catch mites before they do more damage.