Adults and nymphs have needle-like mouth-parts which they use to suck the sap from the surface cells of leaves and, sometimes, young developing fruitlets.
- The cells, which have their contents drained, are whitish in colour, causing a light speckling of the foliage.
- Later, as populations increase and damage intensifies, the leaves become dull green, brownish and finally, silvery bronze.
- Such foliage is brittle and may drop prematurely.
- Leaf damage is usually most evident in late summer and attacks are particularly severe in hot, dry summers.
- Heavy infestations affect yield and fruit bud formation for the following year.
- If large numbers of mites are present in spring, they can infest and feed on the developing fruitlets causing russeting.