Life Sciences Leaflets 2:45-47,2013 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print)0976–1098(Online)

st Published on: 1 Feb 2013 STUDIES ON FROM DISTRICT,

1N.C.VACHHANI AND 2S.K. PATEL 1SIR P.T.SCIENCE COLLEGE, , GUJARAT-383315. 2DEPARTMENT OF LIFE SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY, BHAVNAGER, GUJARAT-364002. [email protected]

ABSTRACT: This study investigates the ’s fauna of the chosen areas of , Gujarat. These sites were chosen randomly at various study areas in Junagadh district. It is aimed to explore the fauna, discover some new spices and by that to enrich knowledge on mites , and to highlight the importance of predatory mites. The diversity of mites fauna resulted in identification of 24 species belonging to 16 genera spread over 11 families of order Highest count of species obtained from Tetranychidae, Phytoseiidae and whereas, the lowest count of species was traced with , Hydrachnidae, and Trombidiidae. The result clearly indicated that the fauna of our study region is very rich and still many under Scribed species possibly remain unexplored.

KEY WORD: Mites, Junagadh, Gujarat.

INTRODUCTION: Mites ( Order Acari {Acarina (Arachnida)}) is play an important role as pest value to plants, and human beings. They damage plants, some mites are predatory feeds on phytophagous harmful mites, aphids and this way help in biological control. As per reference 557 plant mites reported in (Gupta,1985). Homer proved existence of mite in 850 B.C. The term Akari i.e. Mites originated in 1650. Linnaeus in 1758 found thirty species described in his book “System Nature”. Then other workers on mites were Latereille, Leach, Degeer, C. L. Koch and Micael. In 19th and 20th centuries more work established by Megnin, Berlese, Canestrine and Ovdemans. Baker and Wharton (1952) wrote first book in Acarology. Then after Evns et. al (1961), Krantx (1970), Hughes (1976), Added much knowledge on Mites. Jepposon et. Al.(1975) edited comprehensive book on Mites harming to plants. Gujarat state is placed in the West India between 68o 10’ and 74o 30’ E longitude and 20o 10’ and 24o 45’ N latitude covering area of 1,95,99,980 sq. km. Junagadh district fall with the peninsular part of Gujarat. The total area becomes

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Life Sciences Leaflets 2:45-47,2013 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print)0976–1098(Online)

8782.07 sq. kms. Junagadh lies between 22.30 to 21.30 N latitude and 70.50 to 70.60 E longitude, the river Ozat flows near Vanthali in Junagadh district. It has popular hills along forest becomes 16 kms. Girnar is the highest mount in Gujarat. Rivers Ozat, Madhuvati, Hiran, Machhu and Shingola are passes from the district. There is huge deposited of China clay found near Maliya, Boxite is more obtained Kodinar. Climate normally remains hot and dry having temperature 43 oC in summer and down to 25 to 10 oC during winter months. Average rainfall in Junagadh district between 200 mm to 1100 mm. Monsoon starts from late June to late September.

STUDY AREA: The twelve main taluka have selected from Junagadh district for study of and their collection during period of 2003 to 2005. These are Junagadh Manavadar, Vanthali Keshod, Mangarol , Visavadar, Mendarada, Talala , Malia, Sutrapada, Kodinar and Una .

MATERIALS AND METHOD: The wide range of habitats of Mites had led to development of many collection techniques which are used as below: Sweeping method, Hand-picking, e.g. Tetranychids mites. Floating method (Gupta, 1976), Scrapping and teasing . Ideally these are preserved in 75 to 80% ethyl alcohol containing few drops glycerin and acetic acid. Or in 70% Isopropyl alcohol having glycerine and sorbitol few grams. These has been identified by magnifying lens or using stereo-binocular microscopes.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Class Arachnida is classified into various orders (Levi,1982) viz. Araneae (spiders), Scorpionida, Uropygi, Amblypygi, Pseudoscorpionida, Acari (Mites and ) and Solipugida. The survey and collection of order Acari fauna from various plants and hosts from Junagadh. These mites serve as ectoparasitesand vectors that transmit diseases from diseased host to the new healthy hosts and reduce their life span and host may die earlier. If any production like milk of cattle’s wool of goats and sheep’s, meat etc production reduced and economically tremendous loss created due to mite infections. The present diversity like taxonomical work on order Acari (Acarina). Arachnida has been done from the study area of Junagadh District, except , Gujarat, during 2003 to 2005. It is notable that very scant taxonomic work on Acari is done in Gujarat.The study and identification of Acari has resulted in to 24 species belonging to 16 genera spread over 11 families. The reported families are Argasidae, Demodicidae, Pediculoididae, Pytoseiidae, Sarcoptidae, Tetranychidae and Tromibidiidae. Out of these families

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Life Sciences Leaflets 2:45-47,2013 FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print)0976–1098(Online) comparatively more species were traced from family Tetranychidae (Plant Mites).out of these the highest species count obtained with family Tetranychidae (in plant mites). Total animal and human mites were traced 13 and plant mites also found 11. These are tabulated as table-1& table-2.

REFRENCES: British Isles, their morpho, biology and classification. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist., 1: 219- 225.

Evans, G. O., Sheals, J. G. and Macfarlane, D., 1961.

Gupta, S. K., 1976. Contribution to our knowledge of tetranychid mites (Acarina), three new species from India. Oriental Ins., 10: 327-351.

Gupta, S. K., 1985. Handbook, Plant mites of India, ZSI, 1-505.

Hughes, A. M., 1976. The mites of stored food and houses. Min. Agri, Fishfood, Lond., Tech. Bull., 9: 1- 400.

Jeppson, L. R., Keifer, H. H. and Baker, E. W., 1975. Mites injurious to economic plants. Unit. Calif. Press, 614.

Krantz, G. W., 1970. A manual of Acarology, Oregon St. Univ., Oregon. Pp-1-335.

Table -1.Total count of Mites (Family, Genera and Species) from study area

Sr. No. Family Genera Species 1 Argasidae 1 1 2 Demodicidae 1 1 3 Eriphyidae 1 1 4 Gamasidae 1 2 5 Hydrachnidae 1 1 6 Ixodidae 2 3 7 Pediculoididae 1 1 8 Phytoseiidae 1 3 9 Sarcoptidae 2 2 10 Tetranychidae 4 8 11 Trombidiidae 1 1 Total 16 24

Table- 2. Total count of Mites (Family, Genera and Species) from study area

Family Genera Species Plant Mites 02 05 11 Animal Mites 09 11 13 Total 11 16 24

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