In the New Jersey region, the late weeks of September & early weeks of October are transition periods for warm season & cool season spider mite species found in landscapes & nurseries. The spruce spider mite & the southern red spider mite are the most common cool season species & they are now “waking-up” from their summer inactive period. Alternatively, the warm season two-spotted spider mite may have stopped feeding or will soon cease. They are rapidly declining & preparing to depart the leaves of their host plants if they have not already done so.

Two-spotted spider mites that produced these stippling symptoms on burning bush this summer are now entering dormancy with the arrival of autumn
(Photo: Steven K. Rettke of RCE)