[Host] Citrus spp. Grapefruit, Lemon, Lime, Orange, Other Citrus

Deformed buds, flowers, leaves, and fruit caused by
Eriophyes [now Aceria] sheldoni Ewing

The citrus bud mite['s] ... feeding within the buds invariably results in distortion of shoot growth, excessive and grotesque deformation of fruit, foliage, and blossoms, discoloration of fruit, and more commonly the production of numerous buds. The last may develop abortive twigs in tight clusters resembling witches'-broom and bunched terminal growth of distorted stems and leaves. Most malformed fruit drops prematurely. Mature lemon fruit shows blackened areas on the rind
beneath the sepals (buttons), where large colonies of mites are concealed. Deformed leaves and blossoms assume various shapes; the leaf blades are constricted at their middle, curled and twisted, and divided and divergent at the tips; and the blossoms are stunted and abnormal. The symptoms of injury on oranges are similar to those on lemons except fruit deformation is not so grotesque. Affected oranges usually develop to maturity, but they are commonly flattened, resembling the shape of tomatoes; or there are skin folds, seams and ridges, or small apertures in the stylar end.

- Hartford Keifer,Edward Baker,Tokuwo Kono,Mercedes Delfinado,William Styer: (1982) An Illustrated Guide to Plant Abnormalities Caused by Eriophyid Mites in North America^©