Brown Almond Mite (Bryobia rubrioculus) The brown almond mite overwinters in the egg stage and the larvae emerge in the summer. After emerging, the larvae move from the twigs to the leaves and flower buds of plants to feed. They feed by sucking the contents out of leaf cells. During this initial feeding time the larvae change from a scarlet color to a greenish-brown color. When feeding is complete, they move back to the bark of twigs and fruit spurs. The females lay eggs both on leaves and on twigs. Symptoms of brown almond mite infestation include: mottling and browning of leaves and flowers that do not open.