Tetranychus muricatus Meyer, 1974 (Figs. 21-25)

Diagnosis:

Male: Spinneret longer than wide (5-6 x 2-3). Length and width of the palp tarsus 8-9 x 5-6. Dorsal palp-femoral setae (d PFe) modified into a ‘peg-like structure’ with a length of 5-6. Tarsus I bears 4 tactile setae and 2 solenidia proximal to the proximal duplex setae. Empodia tri-digitate and split into 6 proximoventral hairs. Empodia of leg I-II with a prominent dorso-median spur and leg III-IV with a minute spur. Aedeagal knob lacking anterior projection, posterior projection with pointed tip, dorsal margin slanting upward. Posterior pointed tip forms a 52° angle with the shaft.

Female: Spinneret longer than wide (5-6 x 3-4). Palp tarsus almost as long as wide (9-10 x 8-9). Peritreme hook-like (27-29) with three chambers. The dorsal striation between setae e1 and f1 shows a ‘diamond shape’. ‘Duplex set’ of setae well apart on tarsus I with a distance of 25-27 between the proximal and the distal duplex setae. Tarsus I with 4 setae proximal to proximal duplex setae. Empodia of each leg tri-digitae split into 3 pairs of proximoventral hairs with dorso-median spurs. The striation pattern of the pregenital region is broken.

Material examined: 15 males (Acarol. lab/ BCKV/3166−3180/25) and 12 females (Acarol. lab/ BCKV/3182−3193/25), C. ternatea L. from Guskara (23.4882° N, 87.7443° E), Purba Bardhaman, M. alba L. and T. orientale L.B. from Jaguli (22.9276° N, 88.5505° E), Nadia, West Bengal, India.

Remarks: Tetranychus muricatus is reported first time from India. The specimens were collected from Asian pigeonwings (Clitoria ternatea L.), Mulberry (Morus alba L.) and Charcoal tree (Trema orientale L.B.) from Purba Bardhaman and Nadia district during the month of April and May. From previous literature (Meyer, 1974) it was reported from only one host plant (Metalasia muricata L.). Dark brown-coloured mites. Minute white spots all over the leaves along with downward curling were observed. This species is reported from Afrotropical: South Africa (Mayer, 1974) and Oriental: Present study.