Survey of Phytophagous Mites, its Associated Natural Enemies on Brinjal and its Management Through Acaricides in North Bihar

Background: Brinjal is an important vegetable crop grown throughout the country and a number of insect and non- insect pest are reported causing loss in quality and quantity of this crop. Tetranychus urticae (Koch) the two spotted mite is the most notorious non insect pest responsible for significant yield losses in brinjal crops next to shoot and fruit borer. Phytophagous mites are minute and not easily visible by naked eye making it very important create awareness among farmers of its occurrence and management practices. The present work was undertaken to understand status of phytophagous mites and associated natural enemies in brinjal farmers field along with to develop economically feasible management strategy. Methods: Survey was conducted in four villages each of two district of North Bihar Samastipur and Muzaffarpur on presence of phytophagous mites, natural enemies in farmers brinjal field and efficacy of novel acaricides was also evaluated against these phytophagous mites. The survey on phytophagous mites and their natural enemies on brinjal crops was carried out in 31 farmers’ field of Chandauli, Harpur, Naranyanpur and Gopalpur Thara villages of Samastipur and Lautan, Mirapur, Ittha and Muraul villages of Muzaffarpur district at fortnightly interval from January to June 2022. Result: In our study we found wide spread presence of two species of tetranychid mites, predatory mites and six predatory insects viz., Tetranychus urticae, T. neocaedelonicus, Amblyseius indicus, A. tetranychivorous, Coccinellids, green lacewing, anthocorid bugs, mirid bugs, scolothrips and black ants. Efficacy of various acaricides resulted in lowest population in plot sprayed with chlofenapyr 10SC and spiromesifen 240EC and highest active mites were found in azadirachtin 1.9 EC treated plots. The highest per cent reduction over control was observed in plots treated with spiromesifen and the lowest per cent reduction over control was observed in plot treated with azadirachtin. This study has helped in understanding increase in mites infestation in changing climate scenario strategy for management.