Fundamentals of Applied Acarology

About this book

Acarology – the study of mites and ticks, is a subdiscipline of zoology, and is usually considered part of the field of entomology (the study of insects). Mites and ticks are distributed throughout the world and inhabit almost every ecosystem (both terrestrial and aquatic) including grassland soils. More than 55,000 species of mites and ticks have already been described. Mites and ticks directly affect humans as pests of different crops, fruit plants, vegetable crops and field crops; as parasites of human beings, veterinary animals, poultry and pets; pests of stored grains and other products; mushrooms and cheese; and as parasites of honeybees. Mite infestations are responsible for economic losses worth billions of dollars in terms of reduced crop yields and lowered quality of produce. Many species of mites serve as vectors of various plant diseases; some species of ticks cause losses through blood feeding and by transmitting many diseases among man and animals. House-dust mite allergies, and tick bite allergies are also common in many parts of the world.

Fundamentals of Applied Acarology has been written with the non-availability of any standard text dealing with different aspects of acarology in one place in mind. Separate chapters in this book are devoted to the importance of acarology, historical accounts, acarine technology, morphology and anatomy of Acari; and feeding, development and reproduction. Molecular developments in relation to mites and ticks are also discussed. The role of mites and ticks in quarantines of plants and animals; forensic/criminal investigations; and importance of accidental acarophagy are discussed in detail. Safe usage of pesticides based on their mode of action, development of acaricide resistance and measures to mitigate it are discussed. Mite pests of fruit trees, vegetable plants, and floricultural plants; field crops; mite problems in greenhouses/polyhouses; and mite problems encountered under organic cultivation of plants; and their management through minimum usage of pesticides are emphasized. The role of different predaceous mites in controlling plant pests like thrips, aphids and scale insects is elaborately discussed. Biological control of phytophagous mites is discussed in detail. Different animal parasitic mites and ticks are discussed from both veterinary and medical points of view.

At the end of each chapter, many important references for further reading and electronic references to YouTube clips and other websites are given to understand fully what these tiny creatures look like; behave, feed and reproduce; the nature of the damage they cause to plants and animals; and measures to mitigate them.

Contents

1. Acarology and its Importance
2. Historical Account of Acarology
3. Acarine Technology
4. Morphology and Anatomy of Acari
5. Classification of Subclass Acari
6. Important Acari Families<
7. Feeding, Development and Reproduction
8. Molecular Biology and Acarology
9. Water Mites
10. Soil Mites
11. Quarantine Acarology
12. Mite Pests of Horticultural Crops
13. Mite Pests of Field Crops
14. Mite Pests of Greenhouse Crops
15. Management of Mite Pests under Organic Farming
16. Mite Transmission of Plant Diseases
17. Mite Pests of Mushrooms
18. Mite Problems of Stored Foods
19. Mites Predaceous on Pests of Agriculture
20. Biological Control of Phytophagous Mites
21. Pesticides
22. Parasitic Mites on Honey Bees
23. Medical and Veterinary Acarology
24. Forensic Acarology
25. Accidental Acarophagy
26. Glossary

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Biography

Dr M. S. Dhooria was born in 1946 and did his B.Sc. in Agriculture in 1967, and M.Sc. in Entomology in 1969 from Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana(Punjab), India. In 1980, he did a PhD in Entomology from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi (India) and did pioneering research on mite pests of citrus. He was awarded a Junior Research Fellowship in MSc, and Senior Research Fellowship in PhD studies by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. He has more than 36 years of experience in teaching, research and extension of entomology. He did research work on biology, ecology, and control of the phytophagous mites of Punjab. He has published more than 125 research publications in different reputed journals, contributed some book chapters and a booklet on Citrus Mites as a special publication of ICAR. He has attended several national and international level workshops on different aspects of insects and mites. He is also a life fellow of the Entomological Society of India, New Delhi; the Indian Society for the Advancement of Insect Science, Ludhiana; and the Acarological Society of India (ASI), Bangalore. He has been Vice President of the ASI for two terms. The Friendship Forum of India, New Delhi, awarded him the Certificate of Honour and Gold Medal for his lifetime achievements in Entomology. He has retired from active service in April 2006.