Mites and Ticks: A Virtual Introduction-Tuckerellidae

Tetranychus urticae Koch, the two-spotted spider mite, is the most well know tetranychid species in the world (Pritchard & Baker 1955; Jeppson et al. 1975). It can produce extensive damage to host plants. Colonies are usually found on the underside of leaves. However, when population densities are high, they are found on both sides of leaves and produce abundant webbing to which the eggs, larvae, nymphs and adults adhere (Jeppson et al. 1975; Ochoa et al. 1994). The average life-cycle of females of this species spans about 30 days. During this period, a female will produce and deposit approximately 100 eggs. However, under stressful conditions, egg counts of over 200 per female have been reported (Jeppson et al. 1975). The eggs have a smooth, shiny surface that is off-white in color. This species has been reported to feed on more than 900 different plant species (Bolland et al. 1998).

SELECTED REFERENCES

Baker, E.W. and D.M. Tuttle. 1994. A Guide to the Spider Mites
(Tetranychidae) of the United States. Indira Publishing House: West
Bloomfield, MI, 347pp.

Bolland, H. R., J. Gutierrez and C.H.W. Flechtmann. 1998. World
Catalogue of the spider mite family (Acari: Tetranychidae).
Brill-Leiden-Boston-Koln, Netherlands. 392 pp.

Jeppson, L.R., H.H. Keifer, and E.W. Baker. 1975. Mites Injurious to
Economic Plants. University of California Press: Berkeley, 614pp.

Ochoa, R.; Aguilar, H.; Vargas, C. 1994. Phytophagous mites of Central America: An illustrated guide. CATIE. Serie Tecnica, Manual
Tecnico No. 6 Eng. ed. 234 p.

Pritchard, A.E. and E.W. Baker. 1955. A Revision of the Spider Mite
Family Tetranychidae. Memoirs of Pacific Coast Entomology Society: San Francisco, 2: 472pp.

Tuttle, D. M. and E. W. Baker. 1968. Spider mites of Southwestern
United States and a revision of the family Tetranychidae. The
University of Arizona Press, Tucson. 144 pp.

Wood, M. Rosy Outlook for Greenhouse Roses.
Agricultural Research. September 2001.