Optimization of Field Dose of Abamectin 1.9 EC for the Management of Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks and Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood Infesting Capsicum annuum

Results of two field experiments conducted during August to December 2014 and December 2014 to March 2015, respectively to optimize the field dose of abamectin 1.9 EC to manage the population of yellow or broad mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks and thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood on chilli, are reported. Abamectin 1.9 EC at four doses (60, 75, 100, 125 mL ha⁻¹) was tested against these two pests in comparison with buprofezin 25 per cent SC at 300 mL ha⁻¹, chlorfenapyr 10 per cent SC at 750 mL ha⁻¹, fenazaquin 10 per cent EC at 1250 mL ha⁻¹ and untreated check. Two rounds of foliar spray of abamectin 125 mL ha⁻¹, at 50 and 60 days respectively after transplanting recorded the lowest mean population of thrips (0.76 thrips 3 leaves⁻¹) and yellow mite (0.53 mites cm⁻²) while chlorfenapyr, buprofezin and fenazaquin recorded 7.74, 7.93 and 11.69 nos. 3 leaves⁻¹ for thrips and 3.92, 7.38 and 1.92 nos. cm⁻² for yellow mite, respectively, as against 13.04 thrips 3 leaves⁻¹ and 7.84 mite cm⁻² in untreated check. All the four doses of abamectin were safe to spiders and predatory mite while other chemical insecticides were moderately toxic. Abamectin at 100 and 125 mL ha⁻¹ recorded the highest yield of 10.27 and 10.50 t ha⁻¹, respectively, which were on a par with one another.