Population dynamics of predatory mites in different nursery ornamental plants from District Kasur and Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan
2026 - Volume: 66 Issue: Suppl pages: 171
https://doi.org/10.24349/3k9b-trmd
ICA 2026 - XVII International Congress of Acarology, 20-24 July 2026, Montpellier
Keywords
Predatory mites
Ornamental plants
Population dynamics
Biotic-abiotic interactions
Biological control
Abstract
Nursery-grown ornamental plants host diverse phytophagous pest species that shape the dynamics of their natural enemies. The spatial-temporal patterns of such unknown predators, particularly predatory mites remain underexplored in subtropical commercial settings of ornamental plants. This study quantifies population dynamics of predatory mites on 20 different ornamental species across six nurseries in Pattoki (District Kasur) and Faisalabad (District Faisalabad), addressing critical gaps in environmental and host-plant drivers. During study period, repetitive surveys were carried out in six garden centers of two districts of Punjab region from Pakistan. A total of 8,010 specimens of different predatory mites were collected via hand-picking, leaf- washing and beat-sheet methods. The collected mite specimen was preserved, permanent slides were made by Hoyers medium and identified upto family/ genus level with available taxonomic literatue. Leading five dominated families were found such as Phytoseiidae (52%), Stigmaeidae (28%), Anystidae (12%), Cunaxidae (7%), and Ascidae (1%) respectively. Highest population of predatory mites was observed in September at Gehlun (9.37) in District Kasur, followed by Jamsher (n=8.67) and Rosaa Tibba (n=7.89), while the lowest activity occurred in January at Faisalabad (n=0.50). Within District Faisalabad, Gutwala (n=8.22) consistently outperformed Faisalabad (n=6.44) in population density. Predatory mites were peaked on Clerodendrum inerme in April (n=5.50), while lowest activity had occurred on Duranta repens and Platycladus orientalis in July (0.10). During April, maximum incidence of predatory mites was observed exclusively Quisqualis indica (n=5.20) and Nerium odorum (n=5.10) showing high counts. Following a sharp decline in July, a second peak appeared in September, led by Clerodendrum inerme (n=4.40) and Nerium odorum(n=4.20). Both biotic and abiotic factors significantly influenced their incidence. Mite populations showed a highly significant positive correlation with average temperature and a non-significant relationship with relative humidity. A highly significant positive correlation with average rainfall was observed for mites from most localities, except Gehlun, where the correlation was moderate (r=0.56). Among biotic factors, leaf lamina thickness, leaf area, hair density, and hair length were identified as important determinants of mite abundance. Predatory mites exhibited a negative correlation with leaf area and a positive correlation with hair density. Overall, the mites’ population shows negative correlation but a positive correlation with leaf lamina thickness of Buddleia hybrida (r=0.035), Clerodendrum inerme (r=0.002), Dahlia pinnata (r=0.011) and Quisqualis indica(r=0.067). Hair length was found to represent a positive correlation with predatory mite’s families except C. Inerme who made a negative correlation (r=-0.001).
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