Among the arachnids, Acari are the only group, which feeds on plants. Plant-feeding mites play an important role as agricultural pests of fruits, vegetables, forage crops, ornamentals and other agricultural crops. The damage caused by many species is still innocuous and often mistaken. Around 7,000 species of plant-feeding or phytophagous mites are known worldwide which occur in five families namely Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tarsonemidae, Eriophyidae and Tuckerillidae. In India, a total of 660 mite species are known, out of which 169 (17 as major and 30 as minor pests) are represented by phytophagous mites.
About Family Tetranychidae
This family of mites comprises 1,250 phytophagous species ranging from 200 to 900 µm. More than a hundred of them can be considered as pest and about ten as major pest. In various crops, 10-15 per cent losses are reported due to spider mites and in some cases, total loss is reported. In particular, 50-80 per cent in mango 10-15 per cent in rice, 15-20 per cent in tea, 10-25 per cent in sugarcane, 13-31 per cent in brinjal, 25 per cent in okra, 27-39 per cent in chillies due to phytophagous mites are reported The most well known and wide spread is the ubiquitous two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae.
Select Any Genera of Family Tetranychidae
Bryobia
Eotetranychus
Eutetranychus
Oligonychus
Panonychus
Petrobia
Schizotetranychus
Tetranychus