Amblyseius swirskii belongs to the Phytoseiidae family, which are characterized by long legs, with the front pair pointing forward and relatively few hairs (< 20 pairs) on their back. The color of mites may vary from deep red to pale yellow depending on the prey items eaten. Mites feeding on thrips and whitefly are generally pale yellow to pale tan.
Amblyseius swirskii cannot be readily distinguished from some other phytoseiid mites (such as Amblyseius barkeri, Amblyseius andersoni, or Neoseiulus californicus) with the naked eye, and positive identification requires examination of slide mounted specimens under a microscope. Length and position of setae (small bristles) on dorsal surface of adults are important morphological characters for identification of phytoseiid mites.