Field Efficacy of Pesticides Against Dust Mites Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranchidae) on Date Palm, Hillawi Cultivar

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate some pesticides with two methods of control (preventative and curative) in a private field in the region of Abu Al-Khaseeb in Basrah province during the growing season of 2018 / 2019; treatments were applied in three dates (eight weeks, ten weeks and twelve weeks) after the pollination of the date palm trees (28/2/2019). The results recorded that the 1st spray was the most effective in reducing the population density of the dust mites compared to the second and third spraying rate (49.25, 45.40 and 42.69)% respectively. The dormant spray carried out in December 2018 that reduced the population density of the pest below the economic threshold by using Sulphur (200, 300 and 400) G/palm and Matrixine (1, 1.5 and 2) Ml.L-1; the population density was decreased to 7.88, 4.15 and 4.05 mites and to 7.53, 4.31 and 3.96 mites by controlling with Sulphur and Matrixine, respectively, compared to the untreated palms (8.63, 24.53 and 42.40 mites) at the sampling events 15 March, 15 April and 15 May.