Mites of agroecosystems
Tuckerella sp., a peacock mite. © Christopher Pooley
Our research has culminated in a book (in production) that will address the difficulty, particularly for non-taxonomists, of identifying mites found in agricultural systems around the world.
Mites associated with crop production and storage can have negative effects by:
- causing direct damage to crops
- worsening crop damage caused by other means
- setting off allergic reactions in humans
Mites can also be beneficial by preying on harmful species. In many cases, however, their impact on crops is unknown.
Distinguishing between species
In order to make informed crop management decisions, it is important to be able to distinguish between mite species.
The publication contains information on study methods and morphology, a pictorial key and descriptions of the important species that inhabit living and stored crop plants.
Project collaborators:
- Dr Anne Baker
- Mr Peter York
- Dr Zhi-Qiang Zhang