Diversity of mite fauna (Acari) associated with fruit plants in West Bengal, India

Surveillance on mite fauna (Acari) associated with fruit plants was conducted during the year 2019-2023 and covered 16 districts of West Bengal. Altogether, 22 species of phytoseiid mites namely, Amblyseius largoensis, Amblyseius parbatabasii, Amblyseius herbicolus, Amblyseius brachycalyx, Amblyseius bengalensis, Amblyseius guajavae, Amblyseius dahliae, Amblyseius crotalariae, Euseius alstoniae, Euseius ovalis, Euseius sundarbanensis, Euseius sajnekhalicus, Euseius arunachalensis, Scapulaseius asiaticus, Scapulaseius morasei, Neoseiulus pranadae, Neoseiulus longispinosus, Typhlodromips syzygii, Typhlodromips cinchonai, Phytoseius jujuba, Gynaeseius ricini and Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) heliotropium under the subfamily Amblyseiinae, Typhlodrominae and Phytoseiinae, 6 genera of other than phytoseiid mites under the family of Tydeidae, Bdellidae, Ascidae, Stigmaeidae and Cunaxidae were recorded. Among the phytoseiid mites, Amblyseius largoensis has been recorded as a dominant species followed by Euseius ovalis and Typhlodromips syzygii. Most of the predatory mites were associated with phytophagous mites in various fruit plants and served as a bio-control agent. Furthermore, 11 species of phytophagous mites under the family Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpade, Eriophyidae were also recorded. Among the phytophagous mites, Tetranychus urticae has been identified as a dominant mite pest.