Oligonychus is a genus of mites in the family Tetranychidae, the spider mites. Many members of this genus are familiar pests of plants. There are about 200 described species. Species include: \n* Oligonychus aceris (maple spider mite), a pest of maples \n* Oligonychus afrasiaticus (date palm spider mite), a major pest of the date palm in North Africa and the Middle East; also on grasses, including maize \n* Oligonychus araneum (grasswebbing mite) \n* Oligonychus bicolor (oak red mite), on oaks and other hardwood trees \n* Oligonychus biharensis (cassava red mite), many cultivated fruits and ornamental plants \n* Oligonychus coffeae (tea red spider mite), "considered to be the most serious pest of tea". Also a pest of coffee, cotton, and jute, and recorded on cashew, African oil palm, rubber, and