Basically my understanding is that the Citrus Bud Mites invade and feed on the plants embryonic cells, which screws up their development on a fundamental level, which can lead to death or deformation of the plant
'
"Heavily infested axil buds dry out and
die as a result of the mechanical damage
caused by the mites’ feeding activities. Where
buds are not destroyed the feeding activity
affects the hormonal balance in the embryonic tissues. This promotes multiple bud formation and also leads to malformation of the plant organs which develop from the affected buds. Twigs, leaves, blossoms and fruit are all detrimentally affected....
....The malformation of fruit takes various forms.
'
Fruit with less severe symptoms usually have
longitudinal grooves that commence at the
calyx and run partially down the cheeks.
In more serious cases fruit are flattened and
assume a pumpkin-like shape while the navel
end (in the case of navel oranges) is enlarged
with marked protrusion of the navel. Lemon
fruit are particularly prone to malformation.
Such fruit can have finger-like protuberances
with marked indentation towards the stylar end.
'
Bud mite may also cause more subtle feeding
damage underneath the calyx. This may take
the form of an irregular, brown ring, somewhat
similar to damage caused by leafroller larvae, but not as deep."
'
http://citrusres.net/downloads/production-guidelines/integrated-production-guidelines-vol-3/integrated-pest-and-disease
'
PDF is Chapter 3, Part 8.1
That’s the thing from one piece show. Gum gum fruit or something. Why is there only one season of a solid show like firefly but 600+ episodes of this???
'
"Heavily infested axil buds dry out and
die as a result of the mechanical damage
caused by the mites’ feeding activities. Where
buds are not destroyed the feeding activity
affects the hormonal balance in the embryonic tissues. This promotes multiple bud formation and also leads to malformation of the plant organs which develop from the affected buds. Twigs, leaves, blossoms and fruit are all detrimentally affected....
'
Fruit with less severe symptoms usually have
longitudinal grooves that commence at the
calyx and run partially down the cheeks.
In more serious cases fruit are flattened and
assume a pumpkin-like shape while the navel
end (in the case of navel oranges) is enlarged
with marked protrusion of the navel. Lemon
fruit are particularly prone to malformation.
Such fruit can have finger-like protuberances
with marked indentation towards the stylar end.
'
Bud mite may also cause more subtle feeding
damage underneath the calyx. This may take
the form of an irregular, brown ring, somewhat
similar to damage caused by leafroller larvae, but not as deep."
'
http://citrusres.net/downloads/production-guidelines/integrated-production-guidelines-vol-3/integrated-pest-and-disease
'
PDF is Chapter 3, Part 8.1
(Their Wikipedia page: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aceria_sheldoni )