Abstract
Tea is grown as a perennial monoculture over large contiguous areas in Northeast India. Arthropods occupy a variety of functional niches and microhabitats and play a major role in the sustainable and healthy functioning of tea ecosystem. Conventional tea cultivation has often accomplished high yields and stable crop production, but has been heavily dependent on continuous and often excessive chemical pesticides, which lead to pest resistance, resurgence and destruction of natural enemies. This communication collates diversity of foliage arthropods on tea plants and tea ecosystems in India. A total of 553 arthropod species comprising 439 species of insects in 89 families and 11 orders and 114 species of arachnids in 30 families and 2 orders are associated with the tea ecosystem. In the tea ecosystem, abundance of phytophagous pests was dominated by Lepidoptera, Hemiptera and Coleoptera. Based on feeding habits, 62.57 % of the arthropods recorded were natural enemies, dominated by spiders, coccinellids and hymenopteran parasitoids. This article is expected to provide useful foundation for exploring integrated pest management strategies appropriate for organic, conventionally grown tea.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ananthakrishnan NR (1960) Observations on red spider of tea in south India. Bull UPASI Tea Sci Dept 19:40–48
Andrews EA (1928) Red spider. Q J Indian Tea Assoc 4:206–219
Anonymus (1936) Report of the entomologist. Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp 14–24
Anonymus (1989) Plant protection Department. Annual Scientific Report, Tea Research Association, Jorhat pp 66–74
Babu A, Kumar AR, Perumalsamy K, James SP (2008) New record of a predator of RSM. Newsl UPASI Tea Res Found 18(1):4
Babu A, Sundaravadiveln C, Kumar P, Vasanthakumar D (2010) Acaricidal activity of plant extract on red spider mite. Newsl UPASI Tea Res Found 20(1):3
Babu A, Vasantha Kumar D, Rahman VKJ, Roobak Kumar A, Sundaravadivelan C (2011) Potential of Mallada boninensis Okamoto (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) as a biocontrol agent of Oligonychus coffeae Nietner (Acari: Tetranychidae) infesting tea. J Plant Crop 39(1):193–195
Banerjee B (1967) Annual Scientific Report. Entomology Department, Tea Research Association (Jorhat) 68–76
Banerjee B (1979) Intra tree variation in the distribution of the tea red spider mite Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner). Acarologia 21:216–220
Banerjee B (1983) Arthropod accumulation on tea in young and old habitats. Ecol Entomol 18(2):339–342
Banerjee B (1988) Why leaf miner Agromyza theae (Bigot) Meij (Agromyzidae: Diptera) populations are low on tea? Trop Ecol 29(2):73–78
Barua A, Babu A, Rajkhowa R (2013) Study on life cycle parameters of Stethorus aptus (Kapur) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae): A new predator of tea Red spider mite Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) (Tetranychidae). Int J Sci Res 2(12):566–567
Borthakur M (1981) Biological notes on a mite predator of the scarlet mite, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes). Two Bud 78(1):18–19
Borthakur M, Das SC (1988) Studies on acarine predators of phytophagous mites on tea in north-east India. Two Bud 34:21–24
Borthakur M, Borthakur MC, Kakoty NN and Das SC (1992) Prospects on biologicxal control of tea pests. In Proceedings of 31 st Tocklai Conference, Tea Research Association, Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, pp 118–130
Calnaido D (1973) New outlook on the pest management of tea. J Natl Sci Counc Sri Lanka 1:97–109
Chakraborty S, Dey PK, Bhattacharya DK, Chakraborty G, Sarkar PK, Somchoudhury AK (2005) Laboratory evaluation of a predatory mite, Amblyseius coccosocius Ghai and Menon against red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) in tea. J Entomol Res 29(4):309–312
Chen ZM, Chen XF (1989) An analysis of world tea pest fauna. J Tea Sci 9(1):73–88
Cranham JE (1966a) Tea pests and their control. Annu Rev Entomol 11:491–514
Cranham JE (1966b) Insect and mite pest of tea in Ceylon and their control. Monographson Tea Prod Ceylon Tea Res Inst Ceylon 6:122
Das GM (1959) Bionomics of the red spider, Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner). Bull Entomol Res 50(2):265–274
Das GM (1965) Pests of tea in north east India and their control. Tocklai Experimental Station, Cinnamara, Assam, pp 115
Das SC (1974) Parasites and predators of pests of tea, shade trees and ancillary crops in Jorhat circle. Two Bud 21(1):17–21
Das SC (1979) Parasites and predators of tea pests. Two Bud 26(2):72–73
Das SC, Gope B (1981) More about a less known predator pharoscymnus horni (Weise), a predator of Chrysomphalus ficus Ashm. Two Bud 31(1):46–47
Das SC, Sarker M, Mukhopadhyay A (2005) Changing diversity of hymenopteran parasitoids from organically and conventionally managed tea ecosystem of North Bengal. Indian J Environ Biol 26(3):505–509
Das SC, Roy S, Mukhopadhyay A (2010) Diversity of arthropod natural enemies in the tea plantations of North Bengal with emphasis on their association with tea pests. Cur Sci 99(10):1457–1463
Deka A, Deka PC, Mondal TK (2006) Tea. In: Parthasarathy VA, Chattopadhyay PK, Bose TK (eds) Plantation crops. Naya Udyog, Kolkata, pp 1–147
Gupta SK (1978) Studies on Indian Phytoseiidae (Acarina: Mesostigmata). Some Typholodromus mites from South India with description of new species. Bull Zool Surv India 1:45–54
Gupta SK (1989) Mites occurring on tea plants in India with a key for their identification. In: Progress in Acarology, Oxford & IBH, New Delhi, pp 173–176
Gurusubramanian G, Rahman A, Sarmah M, Roy S, Bora S (2008) Pesticide usage pattern in tea ecosystem, their retrospects and alternative measures. J Environ Biol 29(6):813–826
Hazarika LK, Chakraborti SK (1998) Spider complex of tea ecosystem of Assam. Research Bulletin No. AAU/DA/EI. Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat
Hazarika LK, Borthakur M, Singh K and Sannigrahi S (1994) Present status and future prospects of biological control of tea pests of North East India, In Proceedings of 32 nd Tocklai Conference, Tea Research Association, Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, pp 167–177
Hazarika LK, Saikia MK, Sharma M, Borthakur M (1995) Parasitization by Trichogramma chilonis on tea Lasiocamped. Two Bud 42(1):32–34
Hazarika LK, Puzari KC, Wahab S (2001) Biological control of tea pests. In: Upadhyay RK, Mukerji KG, Chamola BP (eds) Biocontrol potential and its exploitation in sustainable agriculture, vol 2, Insect Pests. Kluwer Academic, New York, p 421
Hazarika LK, Bhuyan M, Hazarika BN (2009) Insect pests of tea and their management. Annu Rev Entomol 54:267–284
Jonsson M, Wratten SD, Landisn DA, Gurr GM (2008) Recent advances in conservation biological control of arthropods by arthropods. Biol Control 45:172–175
Muraleedharan N (1982) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 86–106
Muraleedharan N (1983) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 72–91
Muraleedharan N (1984) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 64–82
Muraleedharan N (1985) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 65–90
Muraleedharan N (1986) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 89–118
Muraleedharan N (1987) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 79–103
Muraleedharan N (1988b) Final technical report of the CSIR project “Studies on the distribution pattern and biology of the important insect and mite predators and parasites of caterpillars, aphids, thrips and mites infesting tea in South India”, UPASI Tea Science Department, Tea Research Institute, Valpari, Mimeographed, p. 80
Muraleedharan N (1989) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 21–29
Muraleedharan N (1990) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 33–42
Muraleedharan N (1992) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 69–92
Muraleedharan N (2010) An IPM package for tea in India. In Glimpses of tea research, published by United Planters’ Association of Southern India, Coonoor, pp. 147–169
Muraleedharan N, Chandrasekaran R (1981) Observations on the seasonal variations of Acaphylla theae (Watt) and Calacarus carinatus (Green) in tea field at the Anamallais, South India). Pestology 5(6):11–15
Muraleedharan N, Chen ZM (1997) Pests and diseases of tea and their management. J Plant Crop 25:15–43
Muraleedharan N, Radhakrishnan B (1986) Syrphid predators of the tea aphid Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) in the Anamallis. Indian J Agric Sci 56(4):307
Muraleedharan N, Selvasundaram R (1986) New record of parasites of flushworm and leaf roller of tea. Entomon 11(4):262–263
Muraleedharan N, Selvasundaram R (1989) Life history and seasonal abundance of Apanteles aristaeus, a larval parasitoid of Cydia leucostoma, the flushworm of tea. Entomon 14(1/2):139–142
Muraleedharan N, Selvasundaram R (1991) Bioecology of Phytodietus spinipes (Cameron) a parasitoid of Homona coffearia Nietner, the tea tortrix. J Plant Crop 19(1):26–32
Muraleedharan N, Selvasundaram R, Radhakrishnan B (1988) Natural enemies of certain tea pests occurring in Southern India. Int J Trop Insect Sci 9:647–654
Muraleedharan N, Selvasundaram R, Radhakrishnan B (2001) Parasitoids and predators of tea pests in India. J Plant Crop 29(2):1–10
Nagarkatti S, Sankaran T, Manjunath TM (1979) Natural control of the scale Fiorinia theae Green (Coccoidea: Diaspididae) in Assam. Prot Ecol 1:179–184
Perumalsamy K, Selvasundaram R, Roobakkumar A, Rahman VJ, Babu A, Muraleedharan N (2009) Life table and predation of Oligota pygmaea (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) a major predator of the red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Acari: Tetranychidae) infesting tea. Biol Control 51:96–101
Radhakrishnan B, Loganathan S, Murraleedharan N (1988) Coccinellid predators of Toxoptera aurantii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) infesting tea in Southern India. Newsl Aphidological Soc India 71:7–8
Radhakrishnan B, Loganathan S, Muraleedharan N (1992) Bioecology of the pink mite, Acaphylla theae (Watt) (Eriophyidae: Acarina) in southern India. J Plant Crop 20(Suppl):97–102
Rahman VJ, Babua A, Roobakkumara A, Perumalsamya K, Vasanthakumara D, Subramaniama MSR (2012) Efficacy, prey stage preference and optimum predator–prey ratio of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus longispinosus Evans (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to control the red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietner (Acari: Tetranychidae) infesting tea. Arch Phytopathol Plant Protect 45(6):699–706
Rao GN (1970) Tea pests in Southern India and their control. PANS Pest Articles News Summ 16:667–672
Rao GN (1974) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 28–40
Rao GN (1978) Entomology, Annual Report, UPASI Tea Science Department, pp. 82–108
Rao VP, Dutta B, Ramaseshiah G (1970) Natural enemy complex of flush worm and phytophagous mites on tea in India. Tea Board, Calcutta, p 53
Rosen D, Rose M (1989) Aphytis fioriniae, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a parasite of tea scale, Fiorinia theae Green, form India. Orient Insects 23:269–273
Roy S, Talukdar T, Saha AS, Banerjee DK, Sannigrahi S, Gurusubramanian (2005) Species richness and seasonal abundance of spider and lady bird fauna in tea eco-system of North Bengal. In Proceedings of 34 th Tocklai Conference, Tea Research Association, Tocklai Experimental Station, Jorhat, pp. 347–351
Roychaudhuri D (2011) Assessment of spiders as second order of bio-control agents in tea ecosystem with special reference to Assam and Dooars of West Bengal. Annual Scientific Report, National Tea Research Foundation, Tea Board, Kolkata, India pp 38–47
Sannigrahi S, Mukhopadhyay A (1992) Laboratory evaluation of predatory efficiency of Geocoris ochropterus Fieber (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) on some common tea pests. Sri Lanka J Tea Sci 61:39–44
Sarkar PK, Somchoudhury AK, Sekh K (2007) Role of predators in management of Oligonychus coffeae Nietner in tea in India. In The 5th International Symposium on Biocontrol and Biotechnology. November 1–3, 2007 at Khon Kaen University, Nong Khai Campus, Nong Khai, Thailand, pp. 15
Sengupta N (1967) Natural enemies of flushworm Laspeyresia leucostoma (Meyr.). Two Bud 14(4):170–182
Somchoudhury AK, Saha K, Sarkar PK, Choudharya, Bhattacharya A (1995) Approaches to integrated control of red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) on tea. In Proce.1995 Int. tea Quality – Human Health Symposium, Shanghi, China.
Subbiah K (1988) New records of insect parasitoids of leaf roller and flushworm of tea. Curr Sci 57(12):686
Sudhakaran R, Muraleedharan N (1998) An egg parasitoid of Helopeltis theivora infesting tea. Newsl UPASI Tea Res Inst 8(2):4
Sudhakaran R, Muraleedharan N (2006) Biology of Helopeltis theivora (Hemiptera: Miridae) infesting tea. Entomon 31(3):165–180
Vasanthakumar D, Babu A (2013) Life table and efficacy of Mallada desjardinsi (Chrysopidae: Neuroptera), an important predator of tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae (Acari: Tetranychidae). Exp Appl Acarol. doi:10.1007/s10493-013-9664-z
Vasanthakumar D, Roobakkumar A, Rahman VJ, Kumar P, Sundaravadivelan C, Babu A (2012) Enhancement of the reproductive potential of Mallada boninensis Okamoto (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), a predator of red spider mite infesting tea: an evaluation of artificial diets. Arch Biol Sci 64(1):281–285
Wackers FL, Romeis J, van Rijn P (2007) Nectar and pollen-feeding by insect herbivores and implications for multitrophic interactions. Annu Rev Entomol 52:301–323
Zehnder G, Gurr GM, ¨uhne SK, Wade MR, Wratten SD, Wyss E (2007) Arthropod pest management in organic crops. Annu Rev Entomol 52:57–80
Acknowledgements
Authors are indebted to Mr. Dwiban Pujari, Tocklai Tea Research Institute and Jorhat for his secretarial help.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Muraleedharan, N., Roy, S. (2016). Arthropod Pests and Natural Enemy Communities in Tea Ecosystems of India. In: Chakravarthy, A., Sridhara, S. (eds) Economic and Ecological Significance of Arthropods in Diversified Ecosystems. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1524-3_18
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-1524-3_18
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore
Print ISBN: 978-981-10-1523-6
Online ISBN: 978-981-10-1524-3
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)