Tags: Arachnid.
The peacock mites of the genus Tuckerella (the only genus of the mite family Tuckerellidae) are a significant pest in the tropics for example on citrus fruit. Peacock mites are so named because of the elaborate ornamentations adorning the dorsal surface of their bodies. They also possess five to seven posteriorly projecting pairs of whip-like setae which are used to defend themselves against predators. They may also help in wind-borne dispersal.
