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The effects of rainfall and shade on the occurrence of three mite pests of tea in Ceylon
Author(s) -
DANTHANARAYANA W.,
RANAWEERA D. J. W.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1972.tb04682.x
Subject(s) - biology , mite , spider mite , ceylon , acariformes , horticulture , botany , toxicology , spider , zoology , computer science , programming language
SUMMARY Outbreaks of the red spider mite ( Oligonychus coffeae Nietn.), the purple mite ( Calacarus carinatus Green) and the scarlet mite ( Brevipalpus californicus Banks) of tea were closely associated with the monthly rainfall pattern. Peak numbers occurred during the intermonsoonal dry periods. The relationship between mite numbers and the rainfall pattern suggests that control measures should commence at the end of the first month after the dry season begins. More red spider mites, but fewer purple mites, occurred on tea grown under shaded conditions. Observations on the relationship between scarlet mite numbers and shade were inconclusive. It is suggested that, in addition to direct effects of rainfall and shade, mite numbers are determined by certain biochemical processes that take place within the tea leaves.