Volume 1 Issue 2
Population dynamics of false spider mite, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Giejskes)
(Acari:Tenuipalpidae) on Mikania micrantha Kunth.
in relation to weather parameters
Author(s): K. KARMAKAR AND G. SAHA
Abstract: Mikania micrantha, a widespread per~nnial creeper weed found to grow everywhere in the fencing of cultivated
field, tea garden, poorly managed trees of homestead plantation and on forest plants also acts as a source of
infestation of a destructive mite pest, Brevipalpus phoenicis G. infesting many economically important crops liketea,
citrUs, guava, papaya, pointed gourd etc. Population dynamics of this mite has been studied for two years on this
weed which revealed that the mite remained active through out the year on the weed. Mite population started
increasing in Februazy/March and attained maximum (14.42 mites/leaf) during moderately dryer and cooler period
in the month of October as in other host plants. The mite population persisted till November and thereafter declined
sharply with a very low population (0.27mites/leat) during January. Significant positive correlations were observed
between mite population and minimum temperature and minimum relative humidity, whereas, relation with other
weather parameters were non-significant.
Fig 1: Occurrence of false spider mite, Brevipalpus phoenicis on Mikania micrantha during 2002-2004 at District Seed Farm, BCKV, Kalyani, West Bengal, India
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