A review of the world fauna of Tenuipalpidae (Acarina: Tetranychoidea)

Abstract

The false spider mites or Tenuipalpidae are plant feeders of considerable economic importance. Some of the species are host specific but the majority of them are polyphagous and have a wide host range. Quite a number of them have been found to be serious pests of fruit trees, cultivated crops and vegetables. They feed on almost all parts of host plants, usualJy on the underside of leaves near midrib or veins; but a few feed on twigs, floral heads and under the leaf sheaths of grasses or form galls on host plants. Altogether 574 species under 22 genera are known, of which 8 genera are monotypic. Still a lot remains to be explored to understand the world fauna of the Tenuipalpidae.