Association of the predatory mites with Aceria litchii Keifer

1. Association of the predatory mites with AcerialitchiiKeifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) under West Bengal condition Arunabha Chakraborty Department of Agricultural Entomology, Bidhan Chandra KrishiViswavidyalaya, Mohanpur, Nadia-741252 (W.B.) India, e-mail id: arubckv@gmail.com • The Epilogue: • In India litchi is one of the most important fruit crops in terms of area, production and monetary value • In the areas where litchi is grown, the most serious foliage pest is the Litchi Erinose Mite or Leaf-curl mite, AcerialitchiiKeifer • The highest levels of infestation of this mite recorded were as high as 72.42% on whole plant and 67.74% on leaves (Singh et. al, 2002) • Predatory mites are potentially important biotic factors for suppression of this phytophagous mite in litchi orchards. They constitute a highly significant and beneficial group on account of their vital role in maintaining pest population below the economic injury level • The mites of the phytoseiidae have been recognized as a potential predator of phytophagous mites including Litchi erinose mite • The Objectives: • A comprehensive systematic study of predatory mites associated with Litchi Erinose mite • Taxonomic description with sketches of some important species among those predators AGA solution was use for preservation of collected mites. Ingredients - # 70% propanyl alcohol - 8 part # Glacial acetic acid-1 part. # Sorbitol 300 gm. in 1 gallon of solution. • Methodology: • The mites from the orchards were collected by 'Beating' method • The mites were picked up by a fine ('00 number) brush and kept in AGA solution in different tubes. • Specimens were permanently mounted in Hoyer's medium. • The identifications were done by the help of 'Olympus SZ 140' microscope Hoyer's medium was used for permanent slide mounts. Ingredients­- #Distilled water. -50 cc #Gum arobic -30 gms #Glycerine -20 c.c.  #Chloral hydrate -100 gms • Important observations: • A large number of mites were collected from the leaves of different varieties of litchi trees in orchard • AmblyseiuscoccosociusGhai & Menon,: 1-Dorsal shield, 2-Ventral surface, 3-Spermatheca,4-Spermatophoral process(M) • Female Dorsal shield reticulate, 320 long, 200 wide Measurement of setae: j1-32, j4-9, j5-11, j6-13, J2-13, J5-7, j3-32, z2-18, z4-25, s4-31, Z1-13, S2-20, S4-22, S5-29, Z5-56, r3, R1-14 each • Sternal shield as long as broad, with 3 pairs of sternal setae • Ventranal shield 80 long, 76 wide, with 3 pairs of preanal setae • Spermatheca as figured • Chelicera with fixed digit, having at least 3 apical teeth, movable digit with 1 small tooth • Macrosetae on leg IV: genu-44, tibia-30, basitarsus-48, all with broad tip • List of mite species of different families found to be associated: • Amblyseiuslargoensis(Muma),: 1-Dorsal shield, 2-Ventral surface,3-Chelicera(female), 4-Spermatheca, 5-Spermatophoral process, 6-Genu, tibia and basitarsus, 7- Ventral shield(M) • Female Dorsal shield smooth, 370-380 long, 260-275 wide, with 3-4 airs of small pores and 17 pairs of setae • Sternal shield with 3 pair of sternal setae; metasternal plants with setae • Genital shield 85 wide with a pair of setae • Ventrianal shield longer (105-110) than wide (70-75), vase-shaped • 2 pairs of metapodal plates present, primary one 20-29 long accessory one 5-8 long • Fixed digit of chelicera with 3-4 teeth • Spermatheca with tubular cervix, wall parallel • Peritreme extends anteriorly beyond • Macrosetae on leg IV: genu 95-105, tibia 67-76, basitarsus 40-54, genu II-32, genu III-34, tibia III-43 • Leg chaetotactic formula: genu II 2 2/0 2/0 1, tibia II 1 1/1 2/1 1, genu III1 2/1 2/0 1 tibia III 1 1/1 2/1 1 • Amblyseius (Euseius) coccineaeGupta,: 1-Dorsal shield, 2-Ventral surface,3-Chelicera(female), 4-Spermatheca, 5-Genu, tibia and basitarsus of leg IV, 7- Spermatophoral process(M) • Female Dorsal shield 303 long, 210 wide • Measurement of setae: j1-25, j4-j5-10-20 each, J2-15, J5-6, j3-30, z2-19-20, z4-20-21, s4-31-36, Z1-11-14, S2-21-22, S4-19-24, S5-22-28, Z5-58-60, z5-9, Z4-13, r3, R1-12-13 each • Sternal shield 76 long, 81wide, with 3 pairs of sternal setae. • Genital shield 84 long • Ventrianal shield 85 long, 76 wide, with 3 pairs of preanal setae. • Chelicera with 2 teeth on fixed digit and none on movable digit. • Spermatheca as figured • Macrosetae on leg IV: genu-37-47, tibia-33-37, basitarsus-48-55, all with thickened tip • Summury: • Important predatory mites were recorded belonging to the families like Phytoseiidae, Stigmaeidae, Cunaxidae etc. • Two important Phytoseiids viz., Amblyseiuscoccosocius(Ghai & Menon) and AmblyseiuscoccineaeGupta were found to be associated with AcerialitchiiKeifer during investigation are new to report from West Bengal • Taxonomic details of these mites based on shield arrangements, setal arrangements, different plates, mouth parts, parts of leg, leg chaetotaxy along with other special morphological features have been studied to provide an easy reference for further work • Reference: • Singh,-H-S; Sridhar,-V; Pandey,-V; Naik,-G, (2002), Mite [Acerialitchii (Kiefer)] incidence and its • management in litchi of Rayagada district of Orissa, Insect-Environment.; 8(3): 135-136