SEASONAL ACTIVITY OF PREDATORY MITE, NEOSEIULUS LONGISPINOSUS EVANS (ACARI: PHYTOSEIIDAE) ON FRENCH BEAN
Department of Entomology, N.M. College of Agriculture Naysari Agricultural University, Naysari-396450, Gujarat
CHAUHAN RINKIKUMARI, ABHISHEK SHUKLA AND G. G. RADADIA
The seasonal activity of predatory mite, N longispinosus was recorded during the rd SMW where the predatory mite population was 0.13 mites per leaf. The population of N. longispinosus then gradually increased and the maximum population was recorded during 22s SMW (Last week of May) with 5.40 predatory mites per leaf. The relationship between predatory mite, N. longispinosus and its prey T urticae was found significantly positive. Furthermore, the relationship between N. longispinosus and various abiotic factors was significantly positive with maximum, minimum and average temperature, whereas non-significant correlation existed between morning relative humidity and predatory mite. The predatory mite had also significantly positive correlation with evening relative humidity. It is clearly evident that throughout the crop season distribution of the predatory mite, N longispinosus was higher in middle strata followed by top strata and bottom strata.