ORIBATID MITES FROM COCONUT PALMS - 4 - A NEW SPECIES OF SICULOBATA (ACARI, ORIBRATEI) FROM KERALA, INDIA

This paper provides the taxonomic description of a new species of Sicu lobata, S. malabarica n. sp., collected from the green foliage of coco nut palms cultivated at different localities of Kerala, South In.dia. The new species appeared to extend its distribution on six species of host plants, representing fruit crops, vegetables, oil seeds and weeds . The population density of this species was greater on Cocos nucifera a and the terrestrial weed, Chromolaena odorata, when compared to the other crop plants.