Sexes are similar in appearance, except for the fourth pair of legs. The pupal lasts 2 to 3 days. The mites are very small and difficult to see without a hand lens. Live specimens are light, translucent yellowish green. A pale white stripe runs longitudinally down the back of the female.
Dead specimens are yellowish brown.
They have 4 pairs of whitish legs, but the fourth pair of the female adult is greatly reduced. The adult males have a specialized last pair of legs and are often seen carrying a female pupa over its body. The males often carry the pupae to newly opened leaves. Copulation occurs immediately after the female has emerged from the pupal skin. However, many locally occuring general mite predators give satisfactory control in many areas.