Biodiversity of Spider Mites RASHTRIYA KRISHI Volume 10 Issue 1 June, 2015 88-89 e ISSN–2321–7987 | Article |Visit us : www.researchjournal.co.in| Biodiversity of spider mites (Family: tetranychidae) Pankaj P. Pokle and Abhishek Shukla Department of Entomology, AINP on Agricultural Acarology, Navsari Agricultural University, NAVSARI (GUJARAT) INDIA

Mite is latinized term of word , originated as Acarines of economic importance Systematic position of early as 1650, though its existence was referred to 850 in agriculture Tetranychid mite B.C. by Homer. In recent time mites are gaining Tetranychidae- Red Domain: Eukarya importance as pests of crops. The phytophagous mites Tuckrellidae- Peacocock mite Kingdom: Animalia belong to five families viz., Tetranychidae (common red Tarsonemidae- False spider mite Phylum: Arthropoda Tenuipalpidae- Yellow mite Subphylum: spider mite), Tenupalpidae (common false spider mite), Eriophyidae- Erenium mite Class: Arachnida Tarsonemidae (common broad / yellow mite), Eriophyidae Order: Acarina (common erineum mite) and Tuckrellidae (common Suborder: peacock mite). A multitude of mites live on plants, where Supercohort: Trombidiformes they feed on plant cells, fungi, pollen and small - Cohort: Promatia especially other mites. Spider mites are among the best- Super family: Tetranychoidae known of the Acari. The costs incurred from crop losses Family: Tetranychidae and control strategies are measured in millions of dollars, Genus: Tetranychus but we most frequently blame this damage on a few Species: urticae, ludeni, common species i.e. Two-spotted spider mite or European and size -5-6 mm long. Chelicerae movable, stylet-like red mite. The group Acari is a very diverse group and, Palpi - 4 segmented, with strong claws. therefore, to minimize the damage from these mite pests –Aedeagus of male is characteristic of family.In the need arises to know the diversity and species subfamily Bryobiinae, there are 3 pairs of anal setae compositions. The family Tetranychidae is a diverse group while in Tetranychinae there are 2 pairs of anal setae. and causing most of the damage to the crops throughout –The reproduction is by both arrhenotoky and the world including India and Gujarat. This is the reason thelytoky. why the study of Tetranychid mites has received worldwide –Damages by causing yellowing to bronzing of leaves attention. and causes defoliation. What is biodiversity ? Biological diversity or the shorter Family: Tetranychidae : Eight species are reported “biodiversity” (bio-di-ver-si-ty) simply means the diversity under this family. These species are included under two or variety of plants and and other living things in a sub families: Bryobiinae and Tetranychinae particular area or region. Biodiversity also means the number or abundance of different species living within a Subfamily: Bryobiinae Subfamily: Tetranychinae particular region. Only one genus is reported Eight species are reported under this under the subfamily namely: sub family which include four genera Why is biodiversity so important? Everything that lives Bryobia namely Eutetranychus. in an ecosystem is part of the web of life, including humans. Eotetranychus, oligonychus and Each species of vegetation and each creature has a place tetranychus. on the earth and plays a vital role in the circle of life. Plant, , insect and mite species interact and depend Diversity of family upon one another for what each offers, such as food, World India Gujarat shelter, oxygen, and soil enrichment. Maintaining a wide Helle and Sabelis Gupta (1994) Anonymous (2013) diversity of species in each ecosystem is necessary to (1985) 6 tribes, 71 genera, 6 Tribes, 20 genera, 9 Species. preserve the web of life that sustains all living things. 1200 species. 100 species. Characteristics of Tetranychids : –Mites are called spider mites because of the fact that Important members of family Tetranychidae : these mites like spiders can spin webs to cover their (Koch.), Tetranychus ludeni colonies for getting protection from natural enemies. (Zacher), Tetranychus macfarlanei (Baker and –Soft bodied and are red, yellow, green, orange in colour Pritchard) , Oligonychus indicus (Hirst.), Oligonychus

HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE PANKAJ P. POKLE AND ABHISHEK SHUKLA oryzae (Hirst.), Petrobia latens (Muller), same. Schizotetranychus andropogoni (Hirst.). Petrobia latens (Muller) : It was first reported in Tetranychus urticae (Koch.) : This species has Denmark and In India it was found in Rajasthan, M.P., worldwide distribution and reported on 200 hosts (Major Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, hosts are beans, cucurbits,tomato, okra, brinjal,cotton etc.) U.P. on different hosts Petrobia latens Damage : Feeds on lower surface of leaves with intense such as Wheat, barley, webbing and punctures leaf lamina and suck the oozing bajara. sap. Damage : Typical Biology : The male requires about 9.5 days to complete character of this species their life cycle whereas female requires 23 days to is that it does not produces complete the same. webbing while plants Tetranychus ludeni (Zacher) : It has been distributed become chlorotic due to Worldwide with Cow pea is major host including other 70 loss of cell sap and leaves show yellowing and bronzing hosts. appearance. Damage : Webbing is the typical symptoms and also leads Biology : Completed within 10-14 days to the decrease in chlorophyll content of the leaves. Schizotetranychus andropogoni (Hirst.) : It is serious Biology: Completed within 10 days by sexual reproduction pests of North India and and 9 days by parthenogenesis. found on rice in North east Tetranychus macfarlanei (Baker and Pritchard) : It and also recorded on has been distributed throughout India and recorded on Sugarcane, Rice. Cotton and other malvaceous hosts. Damage : Changes in Damage : Feeds on lower surface of leaves, causing colour from yellowing to yellowing of leaves and becomes serious during bronzing are often Schizotetranychus later stages of crop. characteristics andropogoni Biology : The male requires about 10 symptoms days to complete their life cycle and webbing is also observed. whereas female requires 12 days to Biology : The male requires about complete the same. 16.5 days to complete their life Oligonychus oryzae (Hirst.) : It cycle whereas female requires 13 has been found mainly in days to complete the same. Karnataka,T.N., Kerala, Orissa, Management of spider mites : Punjab and Andaman and Nicobar – Collection and destruction of Islands and major host is rice. infested leaves. Damage : Leaf burning and defoliation – Use of resistant varieties. of leaves takes place. Tetranychus urticae – Release of predators like Phytoseilus Biology :The male requires about 14 days to spp., Amblyseius spp. complete their life cycle whereas female requires 20 – Use of botanicals in combination with chemicals. days to complete the same. – Application of micronutrients. Oligonychus indicus (Hirst.) : It has been distributed – For effective control of mites use any one of the World wide and found in India in Gujarat, Assam, Kerala, acaricides. Prepare the spray fluid in 10lit. of water. Punjab,Tamil Nadu and recorde on different hosts such – Propergite 57% EC 10ml as Sorghum, Jute, Sugarcane, Maize, Ragi, Bajara. – Abamectin 1.8% EC 2ml Damage : Leaves turns – Milibemectin 1% EC 5ml reddish which later – Diafenthiuron 50% WP 10g increases and withers – Fenazaquin 10% EC 10ml Biology : The male – Fenpyroximate 5% EC 10ml requires about 6 days to – Ethion 50% EC 10ml complete their life cycle – Acephate 75% EC 12g whereas female requires – Chlorfenapyr 10% SC 10ml 7 days to complete the Oligonychus oryzae Received : 05.02.2015 Revised : 04.05.2015 Accepted : 18.05.2015

Rashtriya Krishi | Vol. 10 (1)| June, 2015 8 9 HIND AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE