FBIP: Arachnid biodiversity of the Tshivhase and Makumbani Tea Plantations, Limpopo Province

Study Extent

Limpopo Thohoyandou, Kwa-Zulu Natal Nkandla

Sampling

Tshivhase and Mukumbani tea plantations are the only ones the Vhembe region of the Limpopo Province that are in production. They are known for their geographic isolation in a humid Vhembe district, and their minimal use of pesticides, which provide an ideal condition for mites and spiders. The main activities include the cultivation and production of green and rooibos tea. Maake and Craemer: For sampling of non-Eriophyoid mites, three methods will be used; 1) beating of foliage and other plant parts causing the mites to fall into the plate. The mites are collected from the plate with a fine paintbrush and hand lens, and are transferred into small vials with 75-80% ethanol; 2) Plant material will be cut into small pieces into a bottle with ethanol. Contents are shaken thoroughly, removed and the mites will be collected from the ethanol using a stereo-microscope; 3) Tree trunk scrapings collected into a bucket containing ethanol.

Method steps

1. Tshivhase and Mukumbani tea plantations are the only ones the Vhembe region of the Limpopo Province that are in production. They are known for their geographic isolation in a humid Vhembe district, and their minimal use of pesticides, which provide an ideal condition for mites and spiders. The main activities include the cultivation and production of green and rooibos tea. Maake and Craemer: For sampling of non-Eriophyoid mites, three methods will be used; 1) beating of foliage and other plant parts causing the mites to fall into the plate. The mites are collected from the plate with a fine paintbrush and hand lens, and are transferred into small vials with 75-80% ethanol; 2) Plant material will be cut into small pieces into a bottle with ethanol. Contents are shaken thoroughly, removed and the mites will be collected from the ethanol using a stereo-microscope; 3) Tree trunk scrapings collected into a bucket containing ethanol. A stiff brush is used to make strokes on the surface of the trunks and scaffold limbs of each tree sampled. Loose bark or debris and lichens will also be collected from the tree trunks. Eriophyoid mites will be collected directly from plant material with a stereomicroscope. A relatively small part of the plant with symptoms caused by mites will be cut from the plant targeted for collection. Twigs with leaves, buds, flower buds, flowers and a growth point, will be collected. The collected plant parts are packed in damp paper towel within plastic bags, and are kept cool in a cool box. Care is always taken not to be destructive during collecting, and certainly not to hinder the growth of sampled plants. The material will be transported to a laboratory and reach it as fresh as possible. All mites will be permanently mounted for identification under the 100X oil-immersion objective of a research microscope. Specimens will be illustrated and photographed using a drawing tube on a Zeiss Axioskop™ compound microscope and Zeiss Axio Imager Compound Microscope. Behaviour and natural colour patterns will be observed using Zeiss Axio Zoom Microscope. Time frame for the collection of mites is planned for November-December and March (after rains and following growth period). Slide mounting and identification are delicate processes and will take longer.

Most specimen identified to Family level and others to Genus and Species level

1. Arachnida
   rank: class

Limpopo Thohoyandou, Kwa-Zulu Natal Nkandla