Spiders That Live on Pomegranate Trees

Fruit Tree Red Spider Mite

• A fruit tree red spider mite (Panonychus ulmi) infestation can severely affect a pomegranate tree, reducing the amount of fruit it produces or killing the tree itself. You can easily detect the damage caused by mites feeding on the leaf tissue of the plants by the presence of spotting on the upper surface of leaves. This spotting indicates colonies of red spider mites feeding on the underside of the leaves.

Spider Mites

• Spider mites feed on the leaves of host plants, eventually causing severe damage or killing the plant if not removed. These small, dark-colored pests pierce the surface of the leaves, killing the leaves due to the water loss through the tiny holes. To remove spider mites, spray all of the foliage with insecticidal soap specially formulated to remove spider mites.

Cribellate Spiders

• Cribellate spiders (Dictyna) often create their webs on the surface of fruit tree leaves that remain partially rolled. Also found in the bark and in the crevices between the branches, cribellate spiders leave silky strings behind that can cause damage to the leaves and may also cause the buds to fall off the plants before they can mature into fruit.

Salticidae Spiders

• The Salticidae family of spiders is the largest of the spider families. Salticidae spiders are referred to as jumping spiders; they can jump several times their length, tethering to the spot they jump from in case they fall. Salticidae are primarily carnivores, but many breeds of this spider will feed on nectar and plant matter. They do not normally consume pomegranate fruit or seeds but will attack the foliage, causing damage to the tree.