Evaluation of pongamia oil soap against red spider mites, Tetranychus urticae Koch and its effect on mite predators in brinjal ecosystem

Abstract

The efficacy of pongamia oil soap was tested on red spider mites and on its predators (rove beetle, Oligota sp. and predatory gall midge, Feltiella acarisuga Vallot). Pongamia oil soap at 0.6, 1, 2 and 3 per cent along with neem oil 0.6 per cent, soap solution 0.5 per cent and thiamethoxam 25 WG were investigated and observations were recorded on, a day prior to and, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days after spray application. The results revealed that pongamia oil soap @ 3, 2 and 1 per cent shown mite population reduction up to 86.50, 84.57 and 79.27 per cent respectively. Richness of mite predators didn’t vary significantly at one day after spray and the maximum population was observed in soap solution - (4.33/5 plants). Population of mite predators was relatively high at 14 days after spray with soap solution (35.67 per five plants) which was at par with pongamia oil soap @ 0.6, 1 and 2 per cent.