Females lay tiny, globular, pearly stalked eggs on leaf surfaces or attached to the webbing produced by this mite. In a period of 10 to 20 days, females may lay 25 to 40 eggs. Eggs require 5 days to 3 weeks to hatch, depending on temperature. In summer, mites reach maturity in 8 to 12 days. Populations tend to be heaviest in spring and early summer.
Infested areas become brownish to purplish in color and severe infestations cause defoliation.
These mites produce webbing but not as much as persea mite. Euseius hibisci, which can maintain and increase populations on pollen in the absence of live prey, is the major controlling factor. Oil or pave main orchard roads. If it is necessary to use dirt roads for a particular activity, use a water truck or trailer to prevent dust, especially during summer months when heat convection currents carry dust well up into the tree canopies. Individual backyard trees can be hosed down in early to mid-summer to remove dust and enhance biological controls.