Efficacy of botanicals and synthetic acaricides against Aceria noxia Flechtmann & Tassi, 2020 in vegetable amaranth, Amaranthus tricolor L.

Field experiments were carried out to test the efficacy of spiromesifen, fenpyroximate, pongamia oil soap (3%), NSKE (5%), HMO (2%), wettable sulphur and azadirachtin in controlling Aceria noxia Flechtmann & Tassi, 2020 (Trombidiformes, Eriophyidae) in amaranthus. Spiromesifen and fenpyroximate were found to be potent miticides and exhibited extended action in managing the mite. Pongamia oil soap and Horticultural Mineral Oil (HMO) showed immediate control of the mite population but failed to show persistence in the field. Although wettable sulphur was effective in reducing mite population, the yellow dust cover over the crop, reduced the acceptance by the farmers. NSKE and azadirachtin, failed to show the complete control over the mites. The residue of fenpyroximate was found to be above the MRL value fixed by FAO.