Seasonal Distribution Pattern of Spider Mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) Infesting Bamboos in Malappuram, Kerala

C.P.VIBIJA; P.N.M. NASAREEN; Dr. N. RAMANI

Volume : III, Issue : VII, July - 2014

Seasonal Distribution Pattern of Spider Mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) Infesting Bamboos in Malappuram, Kerala

C. P. Vibija, P. N. M. Nasareen, Dr. N. Ramani

Abstract :

Spider mites belonging to the family Tetranychidae are highly polyphagous in nature and live on the undersides of leaves in colonies, being protected by the silken webs and inducing damage by puncturing the leaf tissue and sucking the plant sap. A study on the seasonal fluctuation in the population density of these mites on bamboos (Bambusa bambos (L.) Voss and Bambusa vulgaris var. striata) was carried out in the Calicut University Campus from November, 2012 to October, 2013 in the Malappuram district of Kerala. Results of the study indicated that the spider mite population was generally high on B. vulgaris var. striata when compared to that of B. bambos. The average number of the spider mites present per leaf of B. vulgaris var. striata was 7 where as it was 5.89 on B. bambos. The effects of temperature, relative humidity and rainfall on these mites were also studied.