Mites of Horticultural Crops and Their Management

Abstract

Horticultural crops are infested by four types of mites under families Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae, Tarsonemidae and Eriophidae. This problem is increasing due to their diverse habits, habitats, feeding nature along with climate change and indiscriminate use of insecticides. Except Eriophidae, most mites have broad hosts. Spider mites under Tetranychidae produce white to reddish leaf blotches leading to dry leaves. Pinkish leaf blotch without webbing is formed by Tenuipalpids. Stunted plant growth with downward leaf curling is common for Tarsonemids. Specific damage occurs by different Eriophid species. Including all of these, Integrated Mite management (IMM) has been highlighted here in details.