Typically, damage to the plant is the first indication of their presence. Symptoms may include severe stunting of leaves in the center of the plant, sometimes with leaf curling. New leaves are often very hairy, making them appear grayish. Flower buds may also be stunted and misshapen or even fail to open. As such, damage is usually seen there first.
Mites feed by sucking sap from the plant.
During feeding, they inject a toxic chemical that disrupts normal growth patterns. With heavy infestations, leaf and flower buds may die. If ignored, the entire plant or just the center of the plant may die. Even after infestations are controlled, some symptoms will remain. A return to a normal appearance requires time and a gradual pruning of distorted leaves.