Abstract: From July 2002 to July 2003, a survey on the species richness and abundance of insects and mites in the tea plant, the aerial space above the tea plant and on the ground from organic, non-pollution and common tea gardens were conducted in Magushan Mountains in the Southern Anhui Province. In total, 29018 individuals of 79 species from 41 families were recorded from a common tea garden, 35117 individuals of 81 species from 41 families were recorded from a non-pollution tea garden, and 12727 individuals of 102 species from 57 families were recorded from an organic tea garden. The tea green leafhopper, Empoasca vitis, abundance and its percentage accounted for the total abundance in organic, non-pollution and common tea garden were 5176 and 40%, 14049 and 40% as well as 17590 and 60%, respectively. Wasps, ground beetles, tiger beetles, rove beetles and ladybugs are the major natural enemies in tea gardens, whose species richness and abundance in organic, non-pollution and common tea garden were 40 and 2620, 33 and 1898 as well as 29 and 1610, respectively. In all the three types of tea gardens, species richness was higher from March to April and from September to October, and was lower from late November to middle January. Insect and mite abundance was high from April to June and from September to October, and was lower from July to August due to the warm weather as well as from December to January due to the cold weather. The abundance in the common tea garden fluctuated more than in other two types of tea gardens. Though the Insect and mite abundance was highest in the non-pollution tea garden, the pests did not cause serious damage because of the appropriate forecast and control. In the organic tea garden, the abundance was the lowest, while the species richness was the highest, and the energy paths were complicated and the community may be stable. At the present stage, most of the organic tea gardens in China are established among the mountains where vegetation is flourishing and biodiversity is high, such ecosystems may enhance natural control.

Key words: Organic tea garden, Non-pollution tea garden, Common tea garden, Biodiversity, Community