Efficacy of Acaricides Against Phytophagous Mites in Apple

Efficacy studies were conducted during June-July in 2017 in Kullu Valley of Himachal Pradesh against the phytophagous mites Panonychus ulmi (Koch) and Tetranychus urticae Koch in apple orchards. Four acaricides were evaluated at different doses. After seven days of spray, maximum efficacy was obtained from fenazaquin @ 0.20 ml/ l (0.50 mites/ leaf) which was at par with other test concentrations of fenazaquin @ 0.15, 0.25ml/ l, hexythiazox @ 0.5, 1.0 ml/ l, etoxazole @ 0.25, 0.4, 0.55 ml/ l and abamectin @ 0.5, 0.6 ml/ l. In 14 and 21days post-treatment observations, though the mite incidence increased gradually in all the treatments, all concentrations of hexythiazox, fenazaquin and etoxazole were found significantly superior. After 28 days of spray, maximum efficacy was again with fenazaquin @ 0.25 ml/ l which was at par with hexythiazox (0.5, 1.0 ml/ l), etoxazole (0.25, 0.4, 0.55 ml/ l) and these were significantly superior. Fenazaquin was found extremely toxic to the natural enemies.