А marked variation exists in the distribution of the red spider mite Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner) in the upper, middle and lower zones of both shaded and unshaded teas. In the shaded tea, upper zone hasthe highest mite population, апа this is followed Ьу middle and lower zones. In unshaded tea miadle zone has the highest mite population and the upper zone the least. All the three zones of shaded tea have less mites than the corresponding zones of unshaded tea. Leaf temperature and light penetration within the bushes appear to regulate the distribution of mites.