Association of twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) feeding and gold fleck damage on tomato fruit

It has previously been determined that indirect damage by populations of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, can cause significant yield reductions in fresh market tomatoes. Economic losses may also occur due to direct damage caused by mites feeding on tomato fruit. The removal of cell contents just under the fruit skin can result in a gold discoloration of the fruit known as gold fleck. Tomatoes that contain gold fleck may be unsalable as fresh market fruit. Studies were conducted to determine the susceptibility of different fruit growth stages to gold fleck, the number of mites required to cause gold flecking, and the duration of feeding time required for gold fleck to occur.