Arthropod accumulation on tea in young and old habitats

ABSTRACT.

• 1 A comparison is made of the number of species of arthropods that inhabit tea plants in young and old habitats. Tea plants of comparable age harbour more species in old habitats than in young habitats.
• 2 In both young and old habitats, there is an initial rise in the number of arthropod species on young tea upto 11 years: in the intermediate phase, i.e. between 12 and 21 years, a sharp decline in species numbers occurs followed by a rapid increase between 22 and 36 years, and a final drop after 36 years. These phases are characterized by sap-feeding mites and insects; leaf eaters and defoliators; stem and root borers; and termites and wood-eating insects respectively.
• 3 Attracting abilities of the plants of different age-groups vary according to their morphological, and physiological attributes depending on their locations in young and old habitats.
• 4 Diverse species of arthropods coexist on tea by developing their own niches in different parts of plants; they apparently avoid interspecific competition by maintaining their numbers at low density.