Efficacy of leaf extracts against tea red spider mite, Oligonychus Coffeae (Nietner)

Attack of Red spider mite (RSM), Oligonychus coffeae (Nietner), on tea plants has been a major challenge in India. Micro-plot studies were conducted during present investigation to evaluate efficacy of aqueous extracts of Senna auriculata, Ocimum tenuiflorum and Artemisia nilagirica against red spider mite. Field studies were also carried out to find out whether the application of these aqueous extracts causes any phytotoxic injury to tea plants and subsequently the tea samples. A. Nilagirica extract @ 7.5% concentration was found to be 77% efficient in controlling the mites, without any phytotoxic effect and did not imparted any taint to tea samples.