Incidence and Report of Phytophagous Mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) from Different Host Plants With Key to the Major Species in this Genus

The spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch is a cosmopolitan agricultural pest with an extensive host plant range. This mite has been reported from a wide range of host plants and it is an important pest of many agricultural crops. Host race formation generates diversity within species leading to speciation. In the Acari group this phenomenon could be particularly prevalent due to the often intimate interaction these species have with their hosts. In this study, we have recorded the possible host plants that were subjected to the infestation of T.urticae in the region of Coimbatore and other nearby districts of Tamil Nadu. The populations of T. urticae were collected from different hosts such as Tomato, Cassava, Carnation and Jasmine. Morphological variations present if any, were noted and a diagnostic taxonomic key was prepared using the adult females and males.