SOME NEW RECORDS OF MITES INFESTING STORED GRAINS IN KOLKATA AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD

Mites infesting stored grains are of twofold importance as not only they feed on the contents of the grains making those useless for human consumption and germination but also often they cause increase in humidity of the granaries, which in turn, invite fungi to infest the grains making those totally or partially un-markatable. In view of this importance, the stored product mites have received worldwide attention of the acarologists. So far as India is concerned, a reasonably good amount of work has been done on diverse aspects from different parts of India, viz., Uttar Pradesh (Girish et al.; 1971, 1973; Lal et al., 1973; Maurya & Jamil, 1981; Maurya et al., 1983), Haryana (Mathur, 1979; Mathur & Minocha, 1981; Mathur & Mathur, 1983; Kumud, 1987; Kumud & Mathur, 1989; Mathur & Minocha, 1989), Punjab (Kapil & Bhanot, 1973); Bihar (Nahar & Gupta, 1980) and South India (Pillai, 1955, 1957; Nangia & ChannaBasavanna, 1989). Unfortunately, very little effort was made so far from West Bengal either to explore the stored grain mite fauna or to study their bio-ecological aspects barring Gupta et ale (1991) who reported some mites. Hence, it was thought desirable to take up study more intensively on stored product mites of West Bengal w.s.r. to granaires from in and around Kolkata during April 1998 to July 2001 and part of the result thereof reporting occurrence of 36 species representing 13 families, 24 genera under 3 orders infesting stored wheat and rice are presented in this paper. This includes 9 species of mites which are reported here for the first time infesting stored grains in West Bengal.


INTRODUCTION
Mites infesting stored grains are of twofold importance as not only they feed on the contents of the grains making those useless for human consumption and germination but also often they cause increase in humidity of the granaries, which in turn, invite fungi to infest the grains making those totally or partially un-markatable.In view of this importance, the stored product mites have received worldwide attention of the acarologists.So far as India is concerned, a reasonably good amount of work has been done on diverse aspects from different parts of India, viz., Uttar Pradesh (Girish et al.;1971, 1973;Lal et al., 1973;Maurya & Jamil, 1981;Maurya et al., 1983), Haryana (Mathur,   1979; Mathur & Minocha, 1981; Mathur & Mathur, 1983; Kumud, 1987; Kumud & Mathur, 1989;   Mathur & Minocha, 1989), Punjab (Kapil & Bhanot, 1973); Bihar (Nahar & Gupta, 1980) and South India (Pillai, 1955(Pillai, , 1957;;Nangia & ChannaBasavanna, 1989).Unfortunately, very little effort was made so far from West Bengal either to explore the stored grain mite fauna or to study their bio-ecological aspects barring Gupta et ale (1991) who reported some mites.Hence, it was thought desirable to take up study more intensively on stored product mites of West Bengal w.s.r. to granaires from in and around Kolkata during April 1998 to July 2001 and part of the result thereof reporting occurrence of 36 species representing 13 families, 24 genera under 3 orders infesting stored wheat and rice are presented in this paper.This includes 9 species of mites which are reported here for the first time infesting stored grains in West Bengal.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Two granaries in two districts of West Bengal viz., 1. F.C'!. godown at Brace Bridge, Kolkata and 2. F.C'!. godown at Dankuni, Hooghly were selected and samples of wheat and rice were collected therefrom at monthly intervals.Extraction of mites was achieved through a battery of Tullgren funnels using 40 W electric bulbs and mites were collected in 70% alcohol kept at collecting tubes fitted with the stems of the funnels.Studies and identification were done after mounting the mites first in 70% lactic acid and later in Heinze's medium.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of 36 species belonging to 13 families and 24 genera under 3 orders are reported here and are listed in Table 1, according to their possible food habits.
The following is the list of mites arranged as per their possible food habits.
A. Grain feeder