The peacock mites of the genus Tuckerella (the only genus of the mite family Tuckerellidae) are a significant herbivorous pest in the tropics, for example on citrus fruit. Other species dwell in grasses, possibly as root feeders.
The peacock mite's name suggests that their feather-like (or leaf-like) setae adorning their backs are evocative of a peacock's plumage. They also have long hair-like setae projecting from rear (caudal setae) that have been compared to a trailing peacock tail. The 5–7 pairs of caudal setae can be flicked over the body very quickly, and they are used like whips as a defense mechanism against predators. They may also help in wind-borne dispersal.
They are classified in the superfamily Tetranychoidea, being its most ornate members.
Species Tuckerella anommata Smith-Meyer & Ueckermann, 1997 (South Africa) Tuckerella channabasavannai Mallik & Kumar, 1992 (host: Saraca indica; Andhra Pradesh) Tuckerella eloisae Servin & Otero, 1989 (host: Fouquieria diguetii; Mexico) Tuckerella filipina Corpuz-Raros, 2001 (host: Hydnocarpus sp.: Philippines) Tuckerella hainanensis Lin & Fu, 1997 (host: Coffea arabica; Hainan) Tuckerella jianfengensis Lin & Fu, 1997 (host: Annona muricata; Jianfengling, Hainan) Tuckerella kumaonensis Gupta, 1979 (India) Tuckerella litoralis Collyer, 1969 Tuckerella nilotica Zaher & Rasmy, 1970 (Egypt) Tuckerella ornatus (Tucker, 1926) – type species Tuckerella xiamenensis Lin, 1982 (host: Manilkara zapota) Tuckerella xinglongensis Lin-Yanmou & Fu-Yuegua, 1997 (hosts: Polyscias fruticosa var. plumata and Camellia sinensis; Hainan) †Tuckerella fossilibus Khaustov, Sergeyenko & Perkovsky 2014 (Rovno amber) †Tuckerella weiterschani Sidorchuk & Khaustov, 2018 (Baltic amber)
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