18 Journal of Biological Control, 28(2): 18–23, 2014 Research Article VIJAY SINGH * and USHA CHAUHAN Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173 230. * Corresponding author: E-mail: vijay4chandel@gmail.com Diversity of mite (Acari) fauna associated with vegetables and ornamental plants in mid- hill conditions of Himachal Pradesh, India KEY WORD: Acari-fauna, bio-control, phytophagous, predators, species diversity. (Article chronicle: Received: 20-03-2014; Revised: 15-4-2014; Accepted: 20-04-2014) ABSTRACT: Survey was conducted in mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh during 2011-2012 to study the mite diversity in 16 different vegetables and ornamental crops. These ecosystems were surveyed to collect the prey and predatory mites at different locations. A total of 32 species in 15 genera and 7 families were observed during this study, out of which 6 species were of phytophagous mites belonging to 2 genera and 2 families, whereas 26 species were of the predatory mites belonging to 13 genera and 5 families. Among phytophagous mites, three species viz. Tetranychus urticae Koch, T. ludeni Zacher, T. hypogeae Gupta were most commonly found and recorded on different crops. Among predatory mites, 4 genera viz. Amblyseius, Euseius, Neoseiulus, Amblydromella were most common. Maximum numbers of predatory mite species were recorded on rose, cucumber and brinjal. Five genera of predatory mites viz. Paraphytoseius, Pennaceius, Typhlodromips, Typhlodromalus and Lasioseius were the new record in the state. INTRODUCTION Soil and climatic conditions in mid-hill region of the state is suitable for growing a large number of ornamental and vegetable crops. Due to introduction of high yielding varieties, especially under poly-house conditions and with subsequent improvement in cultural practices the pest men- ace has aggravated in these crops. Mite pests are reported to be one of the important limiting factors in vegetable pro- duction in India (Channa Basavanna, 1971). These pests thrive and reproduce throughout the year on a wide range of crops and weeds especially under poly-house conditions. In India, spider mite is reported as serious pest of vegeta- bles (Singh and Singh, 1996; Prasad, 2007). Average yield loss to vegetable crops was estimated to be 9.15-100% due to mite infestation, as reported by many authors in differ- ent agro-climatic conditions of the country (Gupta, 1991; Singh, 1995; Rai and Tripathi, 1999; Prasad and Singh, 2007; Prasad et al. 2007; Patil and Nandihalki, 2009 and Vinothkumar et al.; 2009). World over acaricidal resist- ance is reported by mites on various crops (Craham & Helle, 1985; Goodwin et al, 1991). In India, resistance was observed against dicofol (EC), dicofol (WP), abamectin, phosalone, phosphamidon, dimethoate, dicofol and wetable sulpher in different vegetables (Kumar et al. 2001; Kumar et al. 2002; Jhansi Rani and Sridhar, 2002; Sridhar and Jhansi Rani, 2003, 2007). Mite shows complicated behav- ioural pattern which enables them to reach the maximum advantage and also to cope with the vagaries of nature. Before applying the management tactics to control these destructive pests, primary requirement is to know their identity, host crops, distribution, seasonal fluctuation and their natural enemy complex. As the modern management practices are species specific, it is utmost important to know the diversity of various prey and predatory species so as to device effective management strategies on these crops. Very meagre information is available on the mite and its predatory fauna on vegetable and ornamental crops un- der mid hill conditions of HP. Earlier Tetranychus ludeni Zacher and Euseius delhiensis (Narayanan and Kaur) was reported on Dahlia sp. and rose (Sood and Kakar, 1990; Chauhan and Thakur 2007). No detail information is avail- able on mite fauna on vegetable crops. Keeping this in view the present investigation was carried out to explore the di- versity of phytophagous mites and their associated preda- tory mite complex on ornamentals and vegetables, MATERIALS AND METHODS A regular survey was conducted during 2011 and 2012 on monthly basis from different ornamental and vegetable crops grown in different localities in mid-hill region of