A NEW SPECIES OF PREDATORY MITE OF THE GENUS AMBLYSEIUS (ACARI: PHYTOSEIIDAE) FROM KERALA, INDIA

Consumers worldwide are now strongly demanding agricultural products grown with few or no chemicals. Many farmers are aware of the dangers of excessive use of chemicals and are now trying to replace chemicals with natural enemies or organic pesticides. Predatory mites deserve special mention in an agricultural country like India, where agriculture is always under the threat of constant pest attack. Among the different families of predatory mites, family Phytoseiidae includes members that have received maximum attention globally. They have been successfully employed in the control of agricultural pest population below economic injury level. Despite their importance in the suppression of pest population below economic injury level in varied ecosystems, predatory mites have not acquired adequate recognition so far in India, particularly in Kerala. Considering the above lacuna, a survey was conducted (October 2015 to March 2016) to unravel the predatory mite fauna on vegetable crops from various districts of North Kerala. The result of the survey yielded an adult female of predatory mite of the family Phytoseiidae viz., Amblyseius manasi nov. sp. is described and illustrated here.