Diversity and community structure of mite fauna associated with flower plants in West Bengal, India

A total of twenty three species of phytoseiid mites were recorded during the period of investigation those were belonging to the genera Amblyseius, Euseius, Paraphytoseius, Typhlodromips, Scapulaseius, Phytoseius, Neoseiulus, Anthoseius, Indoseiulus and Gynaeseius. Among the phytoseiid mite, Amblyseius largoensis was found as dominant predatory mite species occupied 20.55% of total predatory mite population followed by Euseius alstoniae and Euseius ovalis accounting for 9.27 and 7.64% of total predatory mite population, respectively. However, the other predatory mites belonging to the family viz., Tydeidae, Bdellidae, Ascidae, Cunaxidae, Cheyletidae and Stigmaeidae were also recorded in flower plants ecosystem. Regarding phytophagous mites, Tetranychus urticae, Schizotetranychus baltazari, Eutetranychus orientalis, Oligonychus indicus, Polyphagotarsonemus latus and Brevipalpus phoenicis were recorded as destructive mite pests.