Mites and their interaction with Mulberry Plant-A Review

Mulberry is a widely distributed perennial plant, prone to attack by more than three hundred species of arthropod pests worldwide. Mites are one of the most common groups of arthropods found in many habitats and a large number of mite species have been reported from mulberry among them seventeen species of mites belonging to Tetranychidae, Tarsenomidae and Eriophyidae have been reported to be the pest of the mulberry. Tetranychus ludeni, Zacher T. equitorius, McGr Aceria mori Keifer and Polyphagotarsonemus latus cause considerable damage to mulberry in India (5–10%). Other species have been identified that are predatory in nature and can be used as a biological control for the phytophagous mite pests. This paper is an attempt to review the different mite species of mulberry, the damage they cause and the control of the phytophagous mites.