Spider mites or just spiders?
 

Every morning there will be a few cob webs between my orchids that are grouped together, along with a small spider in the web. I will squish the spider and dismantle the webs. Is this just a regular spider?

It has been suggested on here to wipe the top and undersides of the leaves with a paper towel to catch the spider mites? When I wipe the leaves I find nothing. Maybe I just have regular small spiders, not spider mites? I have about 1-2 spiders I find a day. The spider is light tan, about the size of a pinhead.

Thanks for your help,
Carol

You have a regular spider visiting you. Spider mites are very very hard to see without a magnifying glass. They are the size of dust.

Brooke

brooke is right....spider mites do not create webs they will stay underside of leaves and make it appear as if the leaf is perspiring sticky liquid on the affected area....if it makes a web then its a friendly spider who eats bugs on your plant and its all good....

It sounds like just spiders, not mites.

I know some people can't stand spiders, but it they are in my plants and not in the way, I leave them be (those small ones eat small critters that could be potential pests, like whiteflies and fungus gnats)

Yep def. Spiders good luck!

@ Bud Sorry, I beg to differ - spider mites do create webs, follow this link to the American Orchid Society site: Mites I

I think Brooke just commented on the size & appearance of the mites, not the web-making.

You know I think I remember seeing slight webbing on my Gardenia last winter. So very nice point.

It's been my understanding that spider mites will leave silk (webbing) on leaves but I don't think they make proper webs. A number of insects/critters create silk webbing.

I guess "web" is in the eye of the beholder.

The photo at the AOS website (see "Mites I" link- my prior post) looks pretty web-like to me.

Thanks for all the input. Whatever type of spiders they are, there does not appear to be any damage to my orchids that I can see.