GEOSTATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SPATIAL STRUCTURE OF GALL MITE IN LITCHI ORCHARDS

The spatial structure of litchi gall mite (Eriophyes litchii Keifer) infestations was studied in orchards during the winter, using geostatistical methods. The mite population had a clumped distribution throughout the winter. The population showed a good spatial dependence over short distances and had a range of 13 to 18 m. At the beginning of winter, the mite population had a clumped distribution at high densities, and about 61% of the total variation was due to the spatial dependence found at this scale. The range and magnitude of the spatial structure of the mite populations varied considerably from time to time.