LIVING ON LEAVES - MITES, TOMENTA, AND LEAF DOMATIA

Structures on the surfaces of leaves strongly affect phylloplane mites . Glandular trichomes defend against some plant parasites but can also mire predators. However, leaves with tomenta of nonglandular trichome s are often inhabited by large populations of predatory mites. Tufts o f hairs and other minute structures in the vein axils are called leaf domatia. Comparative observations and experimental data demonstrate th at leaves with domatia have enhanced levels of predatory mites. By acc umulating predatory mites, leaf domatia act as a kind of constitutive defense against herbivores. Mites benefit from leaf domatia by securin g a safe place for oviposition and molting. Like several other plant s tructures, leaf domatia are the manifestation of a long-term and mutua lly beneficial interaction between plants and arthropods.