Pongamia oil soap for the management of chilli mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus Banks and its impact on spider population

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted to check the efficacy of the pongamia oil soap along with Spiromesifen and Neem oil soap at different concentrations in controlling chilli mite, Polyphagotarsonemus latus and its impact on spider population. Spiromesifen was found effective against chilli mite and showed persistent action in the field, whereas pongamia oil soap reported an immediate control over the pest but its effectiveness declined with time and concentration. Among the botanicals, 3% pongamia oil soap was found effective and was followed by the 2% pongamia oil soap. Pongamia oil soap proved effective against mite up to seven days after the treatment and the effect declined by 14 days after the spray. The botanicals as well as the chemical spiromesifen were found safe to spiders in the field.