Persian Journal of Acarology

Persian Journal of Acarology

Biodiversity of dust mites (Acari) in western West Bengal, India

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Setwasri Kundu 1
Sagata Mondal 2
Salil K. Gupta 1
1 Medicinal Plants Research and Extension Centre, R.K. Mission, RKMVERI, Narendrapur, Kolkata-700103, India
2 Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Vidyasagar College, Kolkata-700091, India
10.22073/pja.2026.591290.1021150304
Abstract
Paschim Bardhhaman district of West Bengal, India, represents a semi-urban transitional zone where indoor dust accumulation provides suitable microhabitats for mite population. This paper reports dust mite fauna from Paschim Bardhhaman based on the study conducted during May, 2024 to July, 2025. Altogether, 38 species of dust mites belonging to 31 genera, 19 families, and 4 orders are examined here. Out of these, the highest representation of species was from Astigmata followed by Mesostigmata, Prostigmata, and Brachypylina. Out of 38 species, 14 species were allergy causing mites, 16 were predatory mites, and 8 were fungal associated mites. Collection data, distribution, nature of association with dust samples have also been discussed. In addition, different indices like Diversity Index, Index of dominance, Simpson′s and Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index were calculated using standard formulae. The recorded Shannon Index values at order-level were 1.60 (Mesostigmata), 1.39 (Prostigmata), and 1.342 (Astigmata), while Oribatida was represented by a single species. Evenness values ranged between 0 and 0.89, indicating variation in distribution patterns of individuals among taxa. Simpson′s and Margalef′s indices further described dominance structure and species richness within the mite population. Among Astigmata, the most dominant species belonged to the genus Dermatophagoides, followed by Acarus and minimum representation was from the genus Pyroglyphus. The present study provides baseline taxonomic documentation and diversity index-based assessment of dust mite assemblages from an acarologically unexplored district of West Bengal, which may serve as a reference for future ecological and public health studies.
Keywords
Dust mites, Paschim Bardhhaman, relative abundance, Shannon-Wiener index, Simpson&prime
s diversity index, West Bengal
Subjects
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Persian Journal of Acarology
Volume 15, Issue 3 - Serial Number 58
Summer 2026 Article ID:150304