MITES, the microscopic creatures have four pairs of legs. These are cosmopolitan in distribution associated with all kinds of habitats from high altitudes to deserts and oceans.

The little insects are associated with the cultivated crops, vegetables, orchards, ornamental plants, forest trees and wild vegetation. Plants are most vulnerable to the attack of mites.

Besides, these can cause diseases in human, farm animal and poultry birds. Asthma, typhus fever and itching are some common problems caused by the mites in humans. In animals these are ectoparasites of birds and mammals. They feed on domestic birds causing different ailments, and are also vectors of tape worms in sheep, whereas chiggers cause scars and wounds in dogs etc.

Mite attacks are reported at important crops and orchards all over Pakistan. Through the needle like stylets, these insects suck the cell sap from leaves thus effecting the food formation in plants which results in stippling, bronzing and dropping of leaves, affecting the yield of crops and fruits. A single mite can consume 17-20 cells in a minute.

Besides, direct feeding from plants, these mites are also responsible for transmitting viral and bacterial diseases. The members of the families Tetranychidae and Eriophyidae are known to transmit the potato virus Y, wheat streak virus, fig mosaic virus and tobacco ring spot. It is also a suspicious case of transmitting the CLCV in cotton, whereas Eriophyidae are responsible for causing abnormalities in plants by modifying developing tissue, deformities, gall formation and irregular fruit growth.

There is another group of mites which infests stored grains, stored bulbs of onion, garlic and other products like cheese, bakery and flour by rotting and imparting fusty smell. In grains these damage the embryonic end thus affecting the germination capacity of seed from 26 to 36 per cent.

Different types of imported pesticides are used to control the pests. The imports have increased from 13,013.10 tons worth Rs1,489.43 million in 1990 to 33,968 tons worth Rs6303 million as of last year.

Despite, speedy control and high cost benefit ratio, these pesticides pose threat to the environment and water. Other disadvantages are the appearance of secondary pests, resurgence and resistance. The biological control is environment-friendly and provides stable ecosystem without creating any disturbance.

Keeping in view the environmental pollution, health hazards and the WTO requirements, the bio-control in the IPM strategies is gaining grounds throughout the world.

Mites have great potential to be used as biocontrol agents as these are found feeding on insects and mites. Among these mites Cunaxid feed on other harmful mites, small soft bodied insects like whitefly, aphids, thrips, scale insects, collembolans and their eggs. Potentials to control the arthropod pests have been recognized the world over. They can be incorporated intelligently in the pest management programmes. Although they cannot provide complete control, if conserved they can play a great role in minimizing the economic losses.

Correct identification, knowledge of persistence and population levels in any cropping area are basic requirements for the IPM programmes. The University of Agriculture, Faisalabad has undertaken extensive research to identify and study the species richness, evenness and their distribution in climatic regions of Punjab.

Extensive collection of these mites had been done all over Punjab and 40 out of 49 species are new to science and not reported from any other part of the world. These are collected from plants, soil, leaf debris and stored grains. It has come to knowledge that the areas of central Punjab comprising Faisalabad, Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana, Toba Taik Singh, Sargodha, Okara, Sahiwal and Gujranwala were most diverse where maximum mites were recorded.

There is a need for biological control of insects and mites by establishing the population levels of these agents. It will be safe for the environment and will also save us from the hidden dangers of resurgence, resistance and replacement.