J. Acarol. Soc. Jpn., 25(S1): 77-81. March 25, 2016 © The Acarological Society of Japan http://www.acarology-japan.org/ 77

The of the family Tarsonemidae (: Heterostigmata) in West Bengal, India

Krishna KARMAKAR* Department of Agricultural Entomology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur-741252, Nadia, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT

This paper reports a survey of plant-associated tarsonemid mites throughout the Indian state of West Bengal during 2009-2013. Eleven species in seven genera were collected. Among the most economically important mites, Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) was most widely distributed and infested a wide range of host plants, including many commercial crops. Four species of Steneo­ Beer were collected from paddy fields; S. spinki Smiley was the most dominant on rice during the wet season, and S. furcatus De Leon attacked rice in both the southern coastal districts and the Himalayan foothills; it was also found within the large air spaces of the inner side of the rice leaf sheath. Besides, spinki and S. furcatus, two other species were also collected on rice those have been presented in table-1. Steneotarsonemus konoi Smiley & Emmanouel was collected from Cynodon dactylon, on which it causes a distinct whitish longitudinal patch on the leaves. Species of Daidalotarsonemus De Leon, Xenotarsonemus Beer, Tarsonemus Canestrini & Fanzago, Fungitarsonemus Cromroy, and Dendroptus Kramer were also collected on different plant species. Key words:  Plant associated, Tarsonemid species, Host plants, Damage symptoms and Distribution

INTRODUCTION

Some species of the family Tarsonemidae are very destructive to many kinds of crops. The introduction of new agricultural techniques, the indiscriminate use of pesticides, and many other probable reasons aggravate the problem of pest control. The mite species Polypha­ gotarsonemus latus (Banks) is highly damaging to chili, Capsicum annum; jute, Corchorus spp; sesame, Sesamum indicum; cowpea, Vigna unguiculata; jatropha, Jatropha carcus; Gerbera spp.; Chrysanthemum spp.; marigold, Tagetes erecta and Dahlia spp. Infestation by Smiley causes destructive damage to some susceptible rice cultivars. Steneotarsonemus spp. is associated with rice and monocot weeds. In India, the importance of this group of mites in agriculture is well established (Prasad 1974; Mohanasundaram 1984; Gupta 1985). There is wide

Tetsuo GOTOH and DeMar TAYLOR (eds.), Acarology XIV: Proceedings of the International Congress. Journal of Acarological Society of Japan 25 (Suppl. 1): 1-192. * Corresponding author: e-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.2300/acari.25.Suppl_77 78 Krishna KARMAKAR scope to study these mites in the Indian state of West Bengal. The objectives of this study were to explore agriculturally important tarsonemid genera in West Bengal, provide a key for their identification and document their distribution, associated host plants, and symptoms of damage produced by them.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Tarsonemid mites were surveyed throughout West Bengal (from northern Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Jalpiguri, and Cooch Behar to southern coastal district of South 24 Parganas, and East and West Midnapore districts) from February 2009 to March 2013 on 29 crops (rice, Oryza stiva; jute, Corchorus spp.; sesame, Sesamum indicum; red gram, Cajanus cajan; green gram, Vigna radiata; ground nut, Arachis hypogaea; sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum; pointed gourd, Trichosanthes dioica; brinjal [eggplant], Solanum melongena; beans, Dolichos bengalensis;okra, Abelmoschus esculentus; cowpea, Vigna unguiculata; Amaranthus spp.; chili, Capsicum annum; mango, Mangifera indica; Citrus, Citrus reticulata; guava, Psidium guajava; litchi, Litchi chinensis; fig, Ficus carica; coconut, Cocos nucifera; Datura stramonium; marigold, Tagetes erecta; rose, Rosa chinensis; Dahlia spp.; Gerbera spp.; Chrysanthemum spp.; betel vine, Piper betle; tea, Thea chinensis and 4 weed species (Physalis minima, Ageratum conyzoides, Argemone mexicana, and Cynodon dactylon). The specimens were mounted in Hoyer’s medium for taxonomic examination. Key to the genera of Tarsonemidae in West Bengal, India 1．Female and male with 4 pairs of metapodosomal coxal setae. Polyphagotarsonemus Female and male with 2 pairs of metapodosomal coxal setae. 2 2．Female with some dorsal idiosomal setae modified; tarsus II with 4 setae and 1 solinidion. Daidalotarsonemus Female and male with dorsal idiosomal setae smooth, finely pilose, or serrated. 3 3．Female with caudal ventral lobe (tegula) long, slender, and triangular, pointed at the posterior tip. Xenotarsonemus Female with caudoventral lobe wider than long and rounded distally. 4 4．Female and male with 3 setae on femur-I. Dendroptus Female and male with 4 setae on femur-I. 5 5．Female and male with idiosoma elongate or oval elongate. Steneotarsonemus Female and male with idiosoma oval or pyriform. 6

6．Female with setae Sc2 displaced anterior to bothridial setae. Fungitarsonemus

Female with setae Sc2 posterior to bothridial setae. Tarsonemus

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Eleven species in 7 genera, 3 tribes, and 2 subfamilies are reported. Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) was dominant and a potential pest of many crops and weeds; Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley and two other species were serious pests on rice; S. furcatus De Leon damaged rice in both coastal and sub-Himalayan regions; and S. konoi Smiley & Emmanouel caused whitish The mites of the family Tarsonemidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) in West Bengal, India 79

Table 1. Genera and species of tarsonemid mites, host plants, damage symptoms, period of occurrence, and geographical distribution in West Bengal, India Genera and species of Habitat (host plants) and damage Distribution in Period of occurrence tarsonemid mites symptoms West Bengal I. Polyphagotarsonemus Beer & Nucifora 1. P. latus (Banks) Chili, jute, sesame etc.; curling, crumpling Year round Throughout West (Plate 1 A –B) and twisting of young leaves and twigs; Bengal stunted growth II. Daidalotarsonemus De Leon 2. Daidalotarsonemus sp. Ber plant (Ziziphus jujuba Lam.); vagrant March–April Kalyani, Nadia (Plate 2 A–B) on the bark of the plant; feeder district, Gangetic Plains III. Xenotarsonemus Beer 3. Xenotarsonemus sp. Fig (Ficus carica L.); no damage symptoms; March–May Burdwan, (Plate 3 A–B) fungus feeder lateritic zone IV. Dendroptus Kramer 4. Dendroptus sp. Within the leaf gall of Ficus racemosa L.; June–September Kalyani, Nadia (Plate 4 A, 4B) predates on nymphal stage of spylla district, Gangetic Plains V. Steneotarsonemus Beer 5. S. spinki Smiley Rice; colonize inner side of leaf sheath; August–November Throughout West (Plate 5 A–5C) produce brown specks on leaf sheath and Bengal chaffy grain 6. Steneotarsonemus sp. 2 Rice; colonize inner side of leaf sheath, October–November Kalyani, Nadia (Plate 6 A) produce brown specks on leaf sheath and district, Gangetic chaffy grain Plains 7. Steneotarsonemus sp. 3 Rice; colonize inner side of leaf sheath, October–November Kalyani, Nadia (Plate 7 A) produce brown specks on leaf sheath and district, Gangetic chaffy grain Plains 8. S. furcatus DeLeon Rice; colonize inner side of leaf sheath, September–November Sub-Himalayan (Plate 8 A–C) enter cell vacuole, feed within tissue of and coastal zones leaf sheath 9. S. konoi Smiley & Emmanouel Cynodon dactylon L.; infest inner side of Year round Throughout West (Plate 9 A–D) leaf sheath; produce white parallel stripe Bengal on leaf blade VI. Fungitarsonemus Cromroy 10. Fungitarsonemus sp. Citrus; on leaf of C. reticulata Blanco; no March–June Darjeeling, Hill (Plate 10 A –B) visible symptoms; may feed on fungi zone VII. Tarsonemus Canestrini & Fanzago 11. Tarsonemus sp. Garlic (Allium sativum L.); produce March–June Gangetic Plains (Plate 11 A–B) whitish spot on upper surface of leaf

patches on leaves of Cynodon dactylon L. Damage by other species was not clear. Species of Daidalotarsonemus, Xenotarsonemus, and Dendroptus are newly reported; S. konoi is a new record from West Bengal. The results show that a rich tarsonemid fauna occurs in association with different crops and weeds under six agro-climatic zones in West Bengal. 80 Krishna KARMAKAR The mites of the family Tarsonemidae (Acari: Heterostigmata) in West Bengal, India 81

Plate: 1. Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks): A, female; B, male. 2. Daidalotarsonemus sp.: A, dorsal; B, ventral. 3. Xenotarsonemus sp.: A, female; B, male. 4. Dendroptus sp.: A, female; B, male. 5. Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley: A, female dorsal; B, female ventral; C, male. 6. Steneotarsonemus sp. 2: A, male. 7. Steneotarsonemus sp. 3: A, male. 8. S. furcatus De Leon: A, male ventral; B, female dorsal; C, female ventral. 9. S. konoi Smiley & Emmanouel: A, male ventral; B, male dorsal; C, female ventral; D, female dorsal. 10. Fungitarsonemus sp.: A, female dorsal; B, female ventral. 11. Tarsonemus sp.: A, female ventral; B, male ventral.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The author is grateful to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, New Delhi, Bayer Crop Science Limited, Kolkata, and Vice-Chancellor B. C. Krishi Viswavidyalaya (State Agricultural University, West Bengal, India) for providing funds and facilities.

REFERENCES

Gupta, S. K. (1985). Handbook: Plant Mites of India. Zoological Survey of India. Publication division, ZSI, Calcutta. pp. 1–520. Mohanasundaram, M. (1984). Some tarsonemid mites from Tamilnadu, India (Acari: Tarsonemidae). Oriental Insects, 18: 79–85. Prasad, V.(1974). A catalogue of mites of India. Indira Publishing Acarology House, Ludhiana (Punjab), India. pp 1–320.