Two spotted spider mites overwinter as:

Two spotted spider mites overwinter as:

• A. Adult females
• B. Eggs
• C. Larvae
• D. Adult males

Answer: (A)

Overwintering is about how a population survives cold months and is ready to rebound when conditions warm again. For the two-spotted spider mite in turf environments, the adult female is the stage that best withstands winter. She can enter a diapause-like dormancy and stay hidden in protected spots such as leaf litter, bark crevices, or debris where temperatures and humidity stay more stable. When spring arrives and temperatures rise, she’s ready to resume activity and lay eggs, seeding new populations quickly. Eggs and immature stages are more vulnerable to cold and desiccation on the plant surface, so they aren’t as reliable for surviving the winter. That’s why overwintering as adult females is the most advantageous strategy for these mites.

Overwintering is about how a population survives cold months and is ready to rebound when conditions warm again. For the two-spotted spider mite in turf environments, the adult female is the stage that best withstands winter. She can enter a diapause-like dormancy and stay hidden in protected spots such as leaf litter, bark crevices, or debris where temperatures and humidity stay more stable. When spring arrives and temperatures rise, she’s ready to resume activity and lay eggs, seeding new populations quickly. Eggs and immature stages are more vulnerable to cold and desiccation on the plant surface, so they aren’t as reliable for surviving the winter. That’s why overwintering as adult females is the most advantageous strategy for these mites.