A "Mite" More Information

The NetWatch item “Mad about mites” (5 Nov., p. 1047) is illustrated with an image of a mite of the genus Tuckerella. This genus is known for its beautiful ornamental setae. These mites have been called ornate false spider mites in Australia, peacock mites in Central America, or odd plant-feeding mites in the United States ([1][1]). Contrary to what is mentioned in the NetWatch item, the function and purpose of the setae on Tuckerella mites is known—they are part of a special defense system ([2][2]). The flagellate caudal seta (FCS) [photos 1 and 3 ([3][3])] of the peacock mite are built with prominent spines along its entire length. When predators approach, the caudal setae are moved forward as powerful whips hitting the body of the attacker. This action confuses the predator and gives time for the peacock mite to escape. Furthermore, the leaflike setae (photos 1, 2, and 4), located around and over the body and legs, work in two ways: first, as plate protection, the strong reinforced spines (photo 4) on each seta are naturally projected, and any predator that bites it will have a nasty surprise; and second, as an anchor and tactile attachment system (photo 2), the dorsolateral (DLS) setae will sit against the open wounds or striations on the host. This helps the mites in their feeding and walking process by keeping the mites closer to their plant host. The palmate setae and their defense and feeding behavior made Tuckerella mites the Stegosaurus of the mite world. 1. [↵][4]1. E. W. Baker, 2. A. E. Pritchard , Ann. Ent. Soc. Am. 46, 243 (1953); [OpenUrl][5] 1. B. McDaniel 2. et al. , Acarologia 17, 274 1975; [OpenUrl][6] 1. R. Ochoa 2. et al. , Phytophagous Mites of Central America (El Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenaza, Turrialba, Costa Rica, Serie Tecnica no. 6, 1994, p. 234; 1. D. Walter, 2. H. Proctor , Mites (Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International, Sydney, Australia, 1999). 2. [↵][7]1. R. Ochoa , Int. J. Acarol. 15, 205 (1989). [OpenUrl][8][CrossRef][9] 3. [↵][10]Mite material for photos was provided by C. Childers, University of Florida, Lake Alfred. [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #ref-3 [4]: #xref-ref-1-1 "View reference 1 in text" [5]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAnn.%2BEnt.%2BSoc.%2BAm.%26rft.volume%253D46%26rft.spage%253D243%26rft.atitle%253DANN%2BENT%2BSOC%2BAM%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [6]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAcarologia%26rft.volume%253D17%26rft.spage%253D274%26rft.atitle%253DACAROLOGIA%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [7]: #xref-ref-2-1 "View reference 2 in text" [8]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DInt.%2BJ.%2BAcarol.%26rft.volume%253D15%26rft.spage%253D205%26rft.atitle%253DINT%2BJ%2BACAROL%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1080%252F01647958908683850%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [9]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1080/01647958908683850&link_type=DOI [10]: #xref-ref-3-1 "View reference 3 in text"