Carmine mite

The females are oval, around 0.5 mm long and brownish-red with dark spots. The males are slightly smaller yellowish-green with a black spot on both side of the body. The species is very similar to Tetranychus urticae and some authors consider both species to be forms of T. urticae. In general T. cinnabarinus can be distinguished by the colour of the summer females which is red (rather than yellowish-green).