... Starting flat, these galls eventually grow to form open galls with erinea, or hair-like growths on the galls. These erinea can create dense habitats, providing shelter for the mites and causing the galls to appear “velvety” ... Initially, [galls] form on the leaves, presenting as only cosmetic damage. If the infestation worsens, the mites can ... spread to other parts of the plant [especially] the younger, softer portions of the stems and the flowers. [This] can cause the flowers to delay opening or even drop without opening [and lead] to stunting of the plant and susceptibility to disease ...

[Known range is limited to Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, American Samoa, and a few other Pacific countries plus Cuba, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and two other territories/countries in the Caribbean.]