Spider Mites on Passionvine

Spider mites enjoy plants, damaging the leaves to the point that the leaves die. Once spider mites multiply unchecked on a plant, they look like this photo. Spinning silk webbing, they can cover the plant and can cause the death of the plant. Spider mites are especially prolific in hot dry weather/conditions.

Although the plant above looks fairly undamaged under the mites and webbing, the second photo reveals more of the true story of the true state of the plant.



Spider mites are so tiny that they are hard to see with the naked eye. The problem isn't the size of one mite, however, its the damage that many mites can do to a plant. Reproducing prolifically, it doesn't take much time for these critters to multiply to the point that a plant is killed.



Caterpillars of several butterfly species eat passionvine. Gulf Fritillary, Variegated Fritillary, Zebra Longwing, and Julia butterflies are use passionvine or passion flower as a host plant here in the United States.



Passionvine infested with spider mites start by being unhealthy for the caterpillar. The insects themselves can be eaten with the leaf, the mites' excrement is eaten, bacteria and mold that grows on the mites' excrement is also eaten by caterpillars.

While looking at sick caterpillars that had eaten food that wasn't healthy for them, it makes me wonder, am I altering the quality of my friend's food?

I can spend time with or write to people who I know and we could grow from our visit but if I gossip, I've altered the quality of our visit to the point that it can be poisonous.

I can spend time with or write to people but if I have a bad attitude, am angry without a just cause, am unforgiving, am proud, am selfish, and arrogant, I've altered ... and so forth.

Looking at these spider mites make me want to be more careful so I won't harm others or myself by adding unhealthy ingredients into our friendships and relationships.

Proverbs 18:24
There are “friends” who destroy each other ...