Vol. 11, Issue 12 (2022)

Author(s):
Rahul Patidar, GS Chundawat, Nikki Bhardwaj and Swarna Kurmi

Abstract:
In this study, the impact of the three different host plant Brinjal, Okra and Marigold on life cycle, development and reproductive characteristics of the red spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. was studied at the laboratory, Department of Entomology, College of Horticulture, Mandsaur. The biology of red spider mites (T. urticae) consisted of egg, larvae, protonymph, deutonymph and adult stages. The lifecycle (egg to adult) of red spider mite found to vary from 18-28 days (male, mated female and unmated female) on different host plant viz., longest on Marigold (21.32±2.49, 28.18±2.18 and 25.68±2.63 days) followed by Okra (21.10±2.18, 26.86±1.69 and 25.36±1.85 days) and Brinjal (18.93±1.33, 24.16±2.01 and 21.16±1.70 days) for male mated female and unmated female, respectively. The ovipositional (fecundity) period of red spider mite was found to be lower in Brinjal (8.80±1.32 days) and higher in okra (10.40±2.01 days). The higher fecundity (no. of eggs) was observed in Okra (86±14.49). Mated female’s of red spider mite progeny consisted of both males and females in the ratio varied from 1: 2.00 to 1:3.50 in Brinjal, Okra and Marigold, while unmated female produced only male.