Diversity and Community Structure of Mite Fauna Associated with Pulse Crops in West Bengal

Background: An exploratory survey programme was carried out to know the diversity and community structures of predatory and phytophagous mite fauna associated with pulses crops in West Bengal aiming for the development of a better and ecologically sound mite pest management strategy. Methods: Mite samples were collected from different agro-climatic zones of West Bengal and the specimens were brought to the AINP on Agricultural Acarology Laboratory, BCKV, Mohanpur for mounting on glass slides by using modified Berlese’s medium. The slides were then kept on slide wormer at 35-40oC for 5-7 days to process and then mites were examined with a phase contrast microscope. Result: Altogether 13 species of Phytoseiid mites namely Amblyseius largoensis, Amblyseius herbicolus, Amblyseius bengalensis, Amblyseius parbatabasii, Amblyseius dahlia, Euseius alstoniae, Euseius ovalis, Paraphytoseius orientalis, Typhlodromips syzygii, Scapulaseius asiaticus, Scapulaseius moraesi, Phytoseius kapuri and Neoseiulus pranadae were recorded. Among them Neoseiulus pranadae was found as a predominant species associated with pulse crops, constituting 35.36% of the total Phytoseiid mite population followed by Amblyseius largoensis and Typhlodromips syzygii accounting 23.04 and 10.87 % of total phytosiid mite population, respectively. Phytoseiid family has been recognized as a beneficial group of mites that could be utilized for controlling harmful phytophagous mites as well as soft-bodied insect pests. Other predatory mites under the families Bdellidae, Ascidae, Stigmaeidae, Cunaxidae and Cheyletida were also recorded during the period of investigation. Tetranychus urticae, Eutetranychus orientalis, Schizotetranychus baltazari and Schizotetranychus cajani were identified as destructive phytophagous mite pests associated with pulse crops in West Bengal.