The sporadic occurrence of this pest is reported from almost all the 14 districts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kalpeni Island of Lakshadweep. A roving team to study the intensity of infestation has identified its occurrence from all the South Indian States and Union Territory of Lakshadweep. The mites are very minute in size and are not visible by naked eye. The life cycle of this mite is completed in 10-12 days. Though the mites are microscopic their damage is enormous and hundreds of mites could be seen in each infested button and tender nut.
Visible symptoms are brown discoloration noticed in patches of the husk.
In case of severe attack the button sheds, resulting in very poor setting percentage. In other cases the nuts are deformed and undersized with poor development of kernel and husk. The mites spread through wind and its multiplication is at a high rate. Though this pest was noticed only in a limited area during 1998 it has become a major pest of coconut in India. Being a micro pest inhabiting under the periyanth, the control measurers at field level are not easy.