This species is native to Europe. It lives in colonies, in a shelter of thick silk covering the tips of the branches.
This mite ranges in size from about 0.4-0.6 mm in body length.
The life cycle depends on temperature and weather conditions.
They can be seen moving throught the webbing on warm days, but on wet and cold days, they cluster at the centre of the web.
This mite does more damage to the gorse than any other pest, and it does not invade other plant species.
It has natural predators, and among them, a Ladybird Beetles (Family Coccinellidae) – Stethorus bifidus – which is able to reduce severely its populations.

Sources Wikipedia and Meander Valley Weed Strategy