Feeding mites have dark spots on either side of the body which may enlarge to cover most of the body. The tiny, spherical, colorless to light, straw-colored eggs are distributed over the infested area. Overwintering females are orange, and hibernate under bark scales on the tree and in trash on the ground. They move up the tree in late March and April, feeding on leaves. Rapid reproduction occurs in hot, dry weather and the infestation peaks in July and August.
Pear trees can tolerate fewer webspinning mites than European red mites.
Usually two to three mites feeding near the midrib of a leaf produce black areas from the midrib to the margin. This blackening may appear even after mites have been controlled, especially if a period of hot weather follows the spray application. High mite populations may cause defoliation. Severe defoliation can stunt fruit and may cause the trees to bloom in fall, thus reducing next year's crop. However, if defoliation is limited to water sprouts in the top or interior of the tree, it will not adversely affect the crop or tree.