Broad mite (BM); Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks)

Dakshina R. Seal

University of Florida-IFAS
Tropical Research & Education Center
18905 SW 285th Street
Homestead, FL 33031
Phone: (305) 246-7600

BROAD MITE CONTROL ON HOT PEPPER, SPRING 1998: Pepper plants were transplanted on 2 Feb 1998 on raised beds, 8 inches high, 32 inches wide, and covered with white polyethylene mulch. Each bed contained 2 rows of peppers spaced 9 inches apart with an 8-inch row spacing. Beds were spaced 72 inches apart. Treatments included: Alert (0.10, 0.15 & 0.20 lb (AI)/acre; and Agri-Mek (1 pt/acre). An untreated check was also set up. Treated plots were 30 ft long with 2 rows per bed, arranged in a RCB design with four replications (blocks). Blocks were separated with a 10-ft untreated buffer. All treatments were applied four times to the foliage at 5-d intervals. Application of insecticides was made by using a backpack sprayer with two nozzles/row at 40 psi. delivering 100 gpa. Insecticide evaluations were done 24 h after each application by collecting 20 terminal leaves, two leaves per plant, from 10 randomly selected plants per plot. Leaves from each plot were kept separate in a plastic cup and were washed with 70% ethyl alcohol to dislodge broad mites. Total number of broad mites per sample was recorded using a binocular microscope (10x).

Mean numbers of broad mites on the first sampling date were significantly fewer in all treatments except for Alert at 0.10 lb (AI)/acre and untreated checks. On the second sampling date, mean numbers of broad mites were significantly fewer in all treated plants irrespective of rates or insecticide than in the untreated control. The reduction in the numbers of broad mites in treated plots was consistent in subsequent sampling dates. Alert at the highest rate (0.20 lb (AI)/acre) provided the best broad mite control.