The population of red spider mite, Tetranychus sp. was high (19.19 mites/leaf) during 23rd SMW (last week of May) thereafter declined with the onset of monsoon and heavy rainfall. After rainy season, pest population again increased and reached to peak (22.87/leaf) on the 42nd SMW (first week of October). However, mite was most active during May i.e., 22–24 SMW and September-October i.e., 40–43 SMW. The incidence of mite was higher on the upper canopy of the plant. The mite population had significantly positive correlation with temperature, minimum and average relative humidity where as non-significant positive correlation was observed with maximum relative humidity and weekly total rainfall. Among the seven treatments evaluated microbial toxin- avermectin resulted in the best suppression of mite population (87.10% suppression), closely followed by chemical insecticide, fenazaquin and mixed formulation of botanical pesticide, azadirachtin with botanical extract, Spilenthes (79.24% and 70.66% suppression). Azadirachtin and botanical extract individually did not produce good results (moderate mite suppression) but when azadirachtin was used as a mixture with botanical extracts provided better results recording more than 65% suppression.
Avermectin, bio-pesticides, neem, organic farming, Spilanthes, vegetable IPM
