Effect of botanicals on coconut Eriophyid Mite, Aceria guerreronis (Keifer)

Out of three solvent extracts, methanolic extracts of plant products were significantly effective in reducing mite population in vitro. Among the botanicals, NSKE (10%) and garlic extract (10%) were superior in reducing the mite population. In order to maintain mite population and turgidity of nuts in the laboratory, a new technique of placing nuts on sterilized moist sand, maintained mite population for five days with minimum population reduction. Methanolic extracts of seven plant products were field tested by keeping neem oil (6%) and azadirachtin (0.009%) as checks. NSKE (10%), azadirachtin (0.009%), neem oil (6%), garlic extract (10%) and sweet flag (10%) were significantly effective in reducing mite population and nut damage.