Chapter I

1. INTRODUCTION
The tea(Camellia sinensis) is the most important nonalcoholic beverage in the world.
The tea is appreciated both for its stimulant properties and health benefit. India is
the largest producer of tea in the world that contributes 27.49% of the world
production and 13.09% of the world trade. At present the tea is grown in 13 states
of India of which Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerela are the largest
producers.

More than one thousand species of arthropod pests are known to attack tea
crops over the world, though only 300 species of insects are recorded from India of
which 167 species from North East India resulting to 11 to 55% annual loss
yield(Das 1

Mites as group, are persistent and the most serious pests of tea in all tea
producing countries (Cranham 1966).Among mites, red spider mite Oligonychus
coffeae, which was discovered in Assam in 1868. High temperature, dry condition
and absence of shade are conductive to outbreak of this pest. Nymphs and adult of
red spider mite lacerate cells, producing minute characteristic reddish brown marks
on the upper surface of the leaves, which turn red
in severe condition.

Red spider mite(Oligonychus coffeae)

has been known as a pest of tea (Camellia
sinensis) from the very early days of tea
cultivation in India. It is widely distributed and
probably also most serious pest tea in Northeast
India.

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 Red spider mite was first reported in Assam in 1868(Watt and
Mann,1903).It is known to be found in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Taiwan,
Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe (Gotoh and Nigati,2001).Different stages of
the red spider mite cause damage to the tea plants by feeding on the sap from the
upper and lower surface of the tea leaves and accassionally on the petioles(Das
1959).
Severe infestation of red spider mite occurs in dry weather and high
temperature. It usually attacks the main stream foliage and causes serious damage to
the health of the tea bushes.

CLASSIFICATION
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Arthropoda
Class- Arachnida
Order- Trombidiformes
Family- Tetranychidae
Genus- Oligonychus
Species- coffeae
Tea plant is caused by larvae, nymphs and adult mites, which feed on the sap of the
leaves and occasionally on petioles. Their attack is mainly confined to the upper
surface of the mature foliage. As a result of feeding, mature leaves become reddish
bronze, and consequently RSM-infested fields can be identified even from a
distance. If the tea bush is under drought stress, tender leaves may also be attacked.
Infestation by mites reduces the photosynthetic capacity of leaves and ultimately
leaves wilt, due to increased transpiration and moisture loss.

Early evidence suggest that red spider mite was responsible for an
average, 6-20% crop reduction in certain part of North East India. They generally
live underside of leaves of plants, where they may spin protective silk webs, and
they can cause damage by puncturing the plant cells to feed. Spider mites are known
to feed on several species of plants.

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 1.1 ABOUT THE STUDY AREA

Margherita is located at the North Eastern corner of the state

Assam, a census town. The town was named after the Italian queen
consort Margherita. It is also called the coal queen due to its queen. It
is located at 27.28●N 95.68●E.It has an average elevation of 162
meters(531 feet).The Dihing river flows through it.
North Eastern coalfields operate from here and has its
headquarters in the town. Plywood and tea are the other developed
industries. The small sub-divisional town is surrounded by hills, tea
gardens, forests and the Dihing river.
The population is a mix of Assamese, Bengoli, Nepali etc. .
A major chunk of the population is Hindus followed by Christians. In
the interior parts, some people follow Buddhism.

Margherita

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 Affected leaves

Picture of study area

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 Chapter II
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

Red spider mite was first reported in Assam in

1868(Watt and Mann,1903). It is known to be found in India, Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda a Zimbabwe (Gotoh and Nigati,
2001).

Different stages of the red spider mite cause damage to the

tea plants by feeding on the sap from the upper and lower surface
of the tea leaves and occasionally on the petioles (Das 1959).

Rao(1974) reported loss of 340-511kg/ha due to red spider

mite infestation during drought. Infestation by mite reduces the
photosynthetic capacity of leaves and ultimately leaves wilt, due to
increases transpiration loss.

Many experiments were done on factors influencing incidences

of red spider on tea (Oligonychus coffeae) in Assam by Dinesh Kachawa
and Sahidur Rahman.They found that the incidence of the red spider
mite reached the peak of the population in the month of April and
there was declined in population from the first week of July.

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 Chapter III
3. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

Materials required-
 Pen
 Camera
 Polythene bags

Methodology-

The experiment was conducted in a tea garden located in Margherita,

Assam. The observations were recorded on randomly selected five plants which
were keep free frm insecticides and any pruning operations. The experiment was
done in order to see the seasonal abundance of red spider mite. The observations
on the incidence of red spider mite was recorded at monthly interval beginning
from January 2019 and continued upto may 2019.

For this, three leaves one each from the top (young), middle (mature) and
bottom(old) portions of tagged plants were
plucked randomly, and collected in a
separate polythene bags without disturbing the
mites.

Then the mites present in the collected

leaves were seen and counted with naked eyes.
Then the observations were note down. And
then the average mite populations were
compared with meterological data and
correlation between them was made.

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 Chapter IV
4. OBSERVATION

Table No.1- Showing seasonal abundance of red spider mite on monthly interval

Sl. Date of No. of No. of No. of No. of No. of Average

No observatio mites mites mites mites mites mites/
. n Present in Present in Present in Present in Present in 3 leaves
3 Leaves 3 Leaves of 3 Leaves of 3 Leaves 3 Leaves
of 1st tree 2nd tree 3rd tree of 4th tree of 5th tree

1 01/01/2019 8 5 3 4 5 5
2 01/02/2019 8 8 5 10 7 7.6
3 01/03/2019 5 14 10 9 5 8.6
4 01/04/2019 12 10 8 6 10 9.2
5 01/05/2019 10 14 15 10 6 11

Graphical representation of the average number of mites based on the date of

observation

12 11
Average mites/3 leaves

10 9.2
8.6
8 7.6

6 5

4 Average mite/3leaves

0
1/1/2019 1/2/2019 1/3/2019 1/4/2019 1/5/2019

Date of observation

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 Table 1.1-Showing relationship between average mites and average
temperature

Sl. No. Date of observation Average mites/3 Average

leaves temperature
1 03/01/2019 5 16 ●C

2 0302/2019 7.6 17.7 ●C

3 03/03/2019 8.6 21.1 ●C

4 03/04/2019 9.2 23.5 ●C

5 03/05/2019 11 25.7 ●C

Graphical representation of the average number of mites and average

temperature

30

25

20
Average temperature

15

Average temperature
10

0
5 7.6 8.6 9.2 11
Average mites/3leaves

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 Table 1.2-Showing correlationship between average mites and average temperature

N=5
Average Average x y x2 y2 xy
temperature(X) mite/3
leaves(Y)
16 5 -4.8 -3.28 23.04 10.76 15.74

17.7 7.6 -3.1 -0.68 9.61 0.46 2.11

21.1 8.6 0.3 0.32 0.09 0.10 0.10

23.5 9.2 2.7 0.92 7.29 0.85 2.48

25.7 11 4.9 2.72 24.01 7.40 13.33

ƩX=104

ƩY=41.4

Ʃ𝑋 104
Avg X= = =20.8
𝑁 5

Ʃ𝑌 41.4
Avg Y= = =8.28
𝑁 5

x= X - Avg X

y= Y – Avg Y

Ʃx2=64.04

Ʃy2=19.57

Ʃxy= 33.76

Ʃ𝑥𝑦 33.76
Correlation(r) = = = 0.95
√𝑥 2 Ʃ𝑦 2 √1253.26

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 4.1 Result and Discussion

Studies on red seasonal abundance on red spider mite Oligonychus coffeae plants in
margherita, Assam revealed that the mites were mostly abundant in the summer
season, highest population being in may. Drought also accelerate the infestation of
red spider mite.

The data presented in Table 1 shows seasonal abundance of red spider mite on
monthly interval. It shows an increasing number of mite population. The infestation
of mites started from the month of January, it was lowest in the month of January
i.e. average mites/3 leaves is 5. The infestation of mite was seen to be highest in
the month of May i.e average mite/3 leaves is 11.This shows that there is gradual
increase in the mite population varying with season.

The data presented in Table 2 shows seasonal variation of red spider mite with
temperature .This shows an increasing number of mites with increase in
temperature.Thus, it can be seen that temperature act as a factor to regulate
infestation of mites on tea plantation. High temperature favours the growth and
infestation rate of red spider mite. The average mite population was lowest in the
month of January i.e at average temperature of 16℃, the average mites/3 leaves was
5 and highest in the month of May i.e at average temperature of 25.7℃, the average
mite/3 leaves was 11.

The data presented in Table 3 shows a strong positive correlation between the
average mite population and average temperature of studied species of Oligonychus
coffeae of red spider mite because calculated value comes to0.95 which is lower
than the table value.

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Fig-Picture showing variation in the level of damage caused by red spider
mite.

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 Chapter IV

5. CONCLUSION

On the basis of study it is concluded that the population of mite gradually

increased with increased in temperature. The was significant correlation
between average mite population and average temperature. Most of the
mites are poikilothermic in nature, therefore abiotic factor play important
role in their distribution and abundance. Red spider mites normally infest
the upper surface of mature tea leaves, though in extreme cases they may
cause damage to the lower surface of older leaves as well as younger
leaves. Due to feeding, the maintenance foliage turns ruddy bronze,
making red spider infested fields distinct even from a long distance.

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REFRENCES

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