Plants which have been severely infested are stunted and may die. Damage to the plant usually results in reduced yields. Adults are yellowish-green with a large dark spot on each side of the abdomen. With the onset of cooler conditions in autumn they become reddish-orange. Females can lay up to 60 to 70 eggs each.
Mite eggs are very small and spherical.
Juveniles hatch six to 10 days after laying, depending on the temperature. Juvenile stages of mites are similar in appearance to adults but smaller and lighter in colour. They go through two moults until they become adults. The whole life cycle can take 15 to 22 days, depending on the temperature Two-spotted mites are most active during the summer when they thrive in the hot dry conditions. In the cooler months of winter, the females overwinter and numbers are low, but during the warmer months of spring mite numbers can build up rapidly.