AN OUTBREAK OF TWO SPOTTED MITE TETRANYCHUS URTICAE KOCH IN APPLE ORCHARDS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH

Incidence of European red mite and two spotted mite remained negligible in the month of May as only a few motile stages were recorded on leaves.
Hatching of eggs started in the month of June on the leaves collected from Dalash (Kullu) and Kotkhai (Shimla). There was sizeable build up of mite population during July as profuse egg laying followed by high mite population was recorded in apple orchards located in Gopalpur (Rampur), Dalash (Kullu), Marog (Chopal), Ratnari and Kiari (Kotkhai) and Sheelghat and Bhattargalu (Jubbal). The multiplication and spread of Tetranychus urticae was found to be relatively more than that P. ulmi in the orchards where large number of sprays were made.
In contrast, incidence of both species was found to be minimum in orchards in Nirmand (Kullu) and Theog where less number of insecticides were sprayed.
In addition to high population of T. urticae on foliage, there was sizeable population of the mite on weeds and ground crops like beans and maize grown in the orchard.
This was ascribed to prevalent high temperature (25-30°C) and low humidity (62%) due to delayed monsoon.

VII International Symposium on Temperate Zone Fruits in the Tropics and Subtropics – Part Two

K.L. Kakar

apple, pesticides, predators, mite, Tetranychus urticae

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.696.72