Mite fauna of agriculturally important crops in Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

newline Investigations on Mite fauna of agriculturally important crops in Himachal Pradesh were undertaken in different agro-climatic zones of Himachal Pradesh. The results yielded 78 species of mites comprising 22 phytophagous mites belonging to three families and 56 predatory mites belonging to seven families. Phytophagous mites belonging to the three families (Number of species / Total number of species) viz., Tetranychidae (11/22), Tenuipalpidae (7/22) and Tarsonemidae (4/22). The predatory mites reported during the present study under the seven families were viz., Phytoseiidae (26/56), Ascidae (3/56), Anystidae (3/56); Erythraeidae (4/56), Iolinidae (2/56); Stigmaeidae (14/56) and Tydeidae (4/56). In all 50 species comparing, 43 predatory mites and 7 phytophagous mites were added to the checklist of the mite fauna of the Himachal Pradesh. Diversity indices values were more in case of Tetranychidae under phytophagous mites, Phytoseiidae had maximum diversity values under Mesostigmata and Anystidae had more diversity values under prostigmatid predatory mites. Polyphagotarsonemus latus was found to be the dominant species in Zone-I, Tetranychus urticae was dominant in the Zone-II. In the Zone-III, E. prasadi dominated over all other species, and P. sextoni was found to be dominant in Zone-IV. Seasonal abundance of the phytophagous mites on brinjal and chilli revealed that during 2018 the peak population of T. urticae was observed in June at Palampur, Una and Bajaura. While at Sundernagar, the peak population was observed during September. During 2019 the peak population of T. urticae was during July in all the locations. Peak population of P. latus was observed during July in both 2018 and 2019 in Palampur, Una, Bajaura and Sundernagar. Minimum temperature was significatly correlated and also influence the population build up of T. urticae and P. latus at Palampur. In contarary, maximum temperature had more influence on population build up of both the species at Una and Bajaura. But in Sundernagar, popu