Image: Spider Mite Damage on Oregano Leaves
Published: January 16, 2026 at 11:10:20 PM UTC
Detailed close-up photograph of oregano leaves affected by spider mites, showing yellow stippling, webbing, and visible mites, ideal for illustrating plant pest damage.
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Image description
The image presents a highly detailed close-up view of oregano leaves exhibiting classic symptoms of spider mite infestation. The composition centers on a small cluster of overlapping, oval-shaped oregano leaves with softly serrated edges and a slightly fuzzy surface texture. The leaves are predominantly green, but their color is uneven and mottled, with numerous tiny yellowish-white speckles scattered across the leaf surfaces. These speckles create a stippled appearance that indicates feeding damage, where spider mites have punctured plant cells and extracted their contents. In several areas, the leaves also show darker brown and reddish flecks, adding to the impression of stress and decline.
Fine, silky webbing stretches between the leaves and along the leaf veins, catching the light and forming delicate, almost translucent threads. This webbing is especially visible near the central junction of the leaves, where it gathers in denser layers. At this focal point, a small cluster of spider mites can be seen, appearing as tiny reddish-orange dots nestled among the webs. Their presence is subtle but distinct, emphasizing the severity of the infestation. The webs radiate outward from this center, connecting leaf edges and undersides, and suggesting an established colony rather than an early-stage problem.
The surface of the leaves appears dusty or granular in places, with minute debris and mite residue clinging to the fine hairs of the oregano foliage. Leaf veins are visible beneath the damage, providing a sense of scale and realism, and reinforcing the close-up, macro-photography perspective. Some leaves show slight curling at the edges, a common response to prolonged pest stress, while others look duller and less vibrant than healthy oregano foliage.
The background is softly blurred, composed of deeper green tones that suggest additional oregano plants or surrounding vegetation. This shallow depth of field isolates the damaged leaves in the foreground, drawing the viewer’s attention directly to the spider mite damage and webbing. Overall, the image conveys both botanical detail and agricultural concern, clearly illustrating the visual signs of spider mite infestation on oregano in a natural growing environment.
The image is related to: A Complete Guide to Growing Your Own Oregano