A catalogue of spider mite (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) fauna associated with agricultural ecosystems of Kerala, South India with a taxonomic key

Spider mites have emerged as serious pests of several field and horticultural crops in Kerala, in recent years. This extensive survey was carried out to assess the spider mite faunal diversity in different locations in the districts of Kerala. The mite specimens collected during the surveys were mounted for morphological characterization and identification. The study recorded 25 species of mites in five genera namely, Tetranychus (13), Oligonychus (5), Schizotetranychus (4), Eotetranychus (1), Eutetranychus (1) and Neotetranychus (1) distributed on 88 different host plants. Tetranychus gloveri was recorded on a wider host range of 44 plants from 28 different plant families followed by T. truncatus (23 hosts), T. urticae (11), Oligonychus tylus (10) and O. biharensis (10) etc. A few species were also recorded with single host plant. The study documents new geographical distribution for Neotetranychus lek from India; Schizotetranychus mansoni from South India; Oligonychus tylus, O. grypus O. sacchari and Tetranychus bambusae from Kerala. New host plants were recorded for T. gloveri (21), T. truncatus (4), T. urticae (2), T. puschelii (2), T. udaipurensis (3), T. neocalidonychus (2), T. fijiensis (2), T. ludeni (1), T. bambusae (1), O. tylus (6), O. biharensis (4), E. orientalis (1), S. baltazari (2) and S. mansoni (1). A comprehensive key for the identification of different species of spider mites collected during the study is provided. The study concluded that the spider mite fauna in Kerala is diverse and that the exotic mite species, T. truncatus and T. gloveri, which were recently recorded from Kerala, have established themselves in the state by widening their host range, within a short period.