This very common pest is easily identified by the tell-tale, small pale markings left on the surface of the aloe leaf. The leaf may eventually be covered in these spots. The alert observer may see several tiny, reddish creatures, the size of small pin heads, scurrying to hide themselves.
The relationship between this pest and other aloe problems is not clearly understood. Suffice it to say that the aloe does not like these mites at all. Even flowers may be distorted as they are subjected to the mite bites when they start emerging. Visible mites like these are easily contained by a sprinkling of insecticide powder in the centre of the plant, and they will succumb to most insecticidal spray chemicals as well.