Evaluation of Pyridaben 20 WP against red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae Nietener infesting tea in Southern India

The new acaricide, Pyridaben 20WP was evaluated against red spider mite (RSM) Oligonychus coffeae Nietener along with standard acaricides propargite and fenpyroximate. Pyridaben 20 WP at the rate of 500 & 625 g/ha was effective in controlling RSM during two seasons (January-March 2014 and January-March 2015). The efficacy of Pyridaben 20 WP was significantly superior than the tested standard acaricides, propargite 57 EC (1000 ml/ha) and Fenpyroximate 5 EC (400 ml/ha). Pyridaben 20 WP was also found to be relatively safe to natural enemies and was non-phytotoxic to tea.