Phototactic and Geotactic Responses of the Tea Red Mite, Tetranychus kanzawai (KISHIDA) (Acarina:Tetranychidae)

Phototactic and geotactic responses of the tea red spider mite, Tetranychus kanzawai (KISHIDA) were investigated at 25℃ and about 40 per cent R. H. Twenty adult females of the mite were placed in the middle of a test tube, 2 cm diameter and 20 cm height. The tube was set horizontally or vertically 50 cm apart from the light source putting on the side. The tube was divided into 9 sections putting a mark. The individual number of the mites in each section was counted 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 minutes after switching on the light. Each test was replicated four times. The mites moved towards the brightest or the highest part of the tube actively at first and more slowly after ten minutes. It was demonstrated that the mites made photopositive and geonegative responses.