Relative Efficacy of Newer Acaricide Against European Red Mite, Panonychus ulmi in Apple

Fenazaquin (Magister 10EC), a newly introduced phenylethyl quinazolin acaricide was evaluated at 0.01, 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04% against European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch) in farmers’ apple orchard at Harsil (2500m ASL) in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand compared to conventional acaricides viz., dicofol 18.5EC (0.037%), ethion 50EC (0.05%), sulphur 80WP (0.015%) during 2004 and 2005. Fenazaquin 10EC @ 0.03 and 0.04% provided excellent control of motile stages of P. ulmi (4.9, 7.2 mite leaf^-1) followed by dicofol 18.5EC (8.6 mite leaf^-1) at 7 days after second spray. Highest fruit yield (147.5 kg tree⁻¹) was recorded in fenazaquin 10EC (0.04%) which was at par with fenazaquin 10 EC (0.03%). The population of natural enemies (chrysopids, anthocorids, predatory thrips and predatory mites) was reduced significantly in higher doses viz., fenazaquin 10EC (0.06 and 0.08%). Considering the performance of different doses of fenazaquin 10EC tested for two consecutive seasons, fenazaquin 10EC (0.04%) can be taken as good alternative acaricide for the management of P. ulmi.