Spider or Spider Mite?

[canoeguide]

I'm seeing some fine webs: sometimes long and strung between branches up to 6" apart, and sometimes a bit denser and in foliage tips. I can't find any mites yet with the paper test and a magnifying lens but managed to catch this guy on a web strand today on a Brazilian Rain Tree (BRT leaves for scale in the photos). The insect is perhaps 1mm in size (the photos make it look large, but it is tiny). Is this a spider or a spider mite?

 

[penumbra]

It is a spider and as such a predator.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I'm seeing some fine webs: sometimes long and strung between branches up to 6" apart, and sometimes a bit denser and in foliage tips. I can't find any mites yet with the paper test and a magnifying lens but managed to catch this guy on a web strand today on a Brazilian Rain Tree (BRT leaves for scale in the photos). The insect is perhaps 1mm in size (the photos make it look large, but it is tiny). Is this a spider or a spider mite?
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If it IS a spider mite... it’s the biggest one I’ve ever seen!

Your leaves look healthy.

 

[Forsoothe!]

If you can see it then it's a spider, not a mite which is more like active red dust. Mites are worse because spiders are meat eaters and shun salads.

 

[penumbra]

Aside from size, it looks nothing like a mite and everything like a predatory spider.

 

[canoeguide]

Thanks all! I'm good with spiders and agree that up close it looks like one.

From any distance, it looked more like this, minus the webs and hundreds of friends. (These are mites, from here: https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/spider-mites )

 

[penumbra]

Pretty common to come in with plants this time of year. Have a Fukian Tea with thee spiders right now.