Visible Mite Eggs on the Underside of Leaves
Before nymphs hatch, female spider mites lay tiny, spherical eggs in clusters on leaf undersides. These translucent spheres are often arranged along veins and shine like droplets in bright light. On my lettuce, the sight of those eggs was like discovering a ticking time bomb—so small yet so portentous!
Removing heavily infested leaves and applying treatments that target both eggs and active mites gives you the best chance to break the reproductive cycle. Keep checking weekly, because new eggs can hatch in as little as three days under warm conditions.