Evaluation of Anthocorid Predator, Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius against Spider Mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch on Okra under Insect Net Cage Condition

The present study deals with the evaluation of anthocorid bug, Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius against Tetranychus urticae Koch on okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.), conducted in Karif season (June-August) during 2013-2015 in the net cage condition at Entomological Research Farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana. The 6-7 days old nymphs of B. pallescens @ 10, 20 and 30 nymphs/m² were released at weekly interval on the mite infested plants and these were compared with chemical control (Omite @ 300ml/acre at 10 days interval) and untreated control. The releases of predators and acaricidal spray on okra were found better than control in suppressing the population of T. urticae. The release of B. pallescens @ 30 nymphs/m² was found most effective with a 75.86 to 81.20 per cent reduction of mite population over control. It was statistically at par with chemical control, where 84.04 to 91.66 per cent reduction of mite population over control was recorded. There was no significant difference observed in the reduction of mite population of the plots released with 20 and 10 nymphs/m² of B. pallescens. The yield of okra from the plots of chemical control was recorded highest (52.70 q/acre), followed by 45.05 q/acre from the plots released with a B. pallescens @ 30 nymphs/m² at seven days interval. The study concluded that, integrating predator, B. pallescens @ 30 nymphs/plant along with acaricide (Omite 300 ml/acre) as a component of IPM for the management of two-spotted spider mite, T. urticae on okra under net house conditions.