What pests are known to cause yellow spots on the top sides of leaves?

Yellow spots on the top sides of leaves are typically associated with spider mites. These pests feed on plant sap by piercing the leaf surface, which can lead to the appearance of yellowing or stippling on the leaves. The yellow spots occur due to localized damage where the mites have fed, resulting in the loss of chlorophyll in those areas.

The other pests mentioned, while they can cause various forms of damage to plants, do not primarily produce yellow spots on the upper surface of leaves. For example, mealybugs and scale insects tend to create a different type of manifestation on plants, often causing a sticky residue or a more general decline in plant vigor rather than distinct yellow spots. Aphids can cause yellowing but usually either affect leaf buds or the undersides of leaves rather than creating the same noticeable pattern of yellow spots on the upper surface.