Garlic mite, Aceria tulipae (Keifer) (Acari: Eriophyoidea) – a threat for garlic in West Bengal, India.

Aceria tulipaeis one of the most damaging mite pests of garlic in the Gangetic Basin of West Bengal. The mite causes damage by infesting along the midrib of leaf. The leaves of infested plants are curled and twisted in a characteristic manner, and growth is stunted, causing 32% yield loss in this study under West Bengal conditions. The mite causes devastating damage to stored garlic also. Mite population initiated at the end of December and attained maximum numbers during mid-February. The garlic cultivar, Katki, was recorded as tolerant, whereas Goldana was susceptible to the mite attack. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were positively correlated with the mite population, whereas rainfall was correlated negatively. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]