Slow Growth and Reduced Yield
Ultimately, a heavy spider-mite infestation steals a plant’s vigor. Fruiting vegetables like eggplants and squash produce fewer blossoms, smaller fruits, and delayed maturation as energy diverts to repair leaf damage.
I tracked my infested tomato harvest against an unaffected bed and saw yields plummet by half—proof that mites are productivity killers. If you notice sluggish growth in tandem with any of the other signs, it’s time to inspect closely for these tiny attackers and start your integrated pest-management plan.