Ash Spider Mites (Tetranychus homorus)

Ash spider mite webbing and mites (red).

The ash spider mites feed on the leaves during the summer apparently doing little damage and then move to the trunk to overwinter. This webbing is not a common sight anywhere although the mites are reported to live throughout the United States. Cooler summers and rain may keep the phenomenon from occurring most years.

Photos: Strong, ME August 2010