As Russian olive resumes growth in early spring, adult mites feed on developing leaf tissue, leading to the formation of galls along leaf midveins. Increasing gall tissue leads to contortion of affected leaves and an increase in leaf hair density. Females lay eggs within the gall tissue, and there are two nymphal stages prior to the adult stage. One generation can be completed in 10–14 days, depending on temperature, and there are multiple generations per year. During the flowering and fruiting period from early to mid-summer, mites prefer flower buds and developing fruits compared to leaves. As Russian olive begins to shed leaves in autumn, mites retreat to buds where they overwinter. Mites primarily spread via wind, although some may also be carried on the bodies of visiting insects.