POPULATION DYNAMICS OF TETRANYCHUS URTICAE KOCH AND PHYTOSEIULUS PERSIMILIS ATHIAS-HENRIOT ON THREE HOST PLANTS

Population dynamics of tetranychus urticae koch (tetranychidae: acari) and its predator phytoseiulus persimilis athias-henriot (phytoseiidae: acari) were recorded on three host plants. the highest number of t. urticae were recorded on bean (153.2) and eggplant (172.3) in the month of may 2006 whereas (174.35) on lady’s finger in august but the lowest (22.0, 8.99 and 9.81) in december 2006 only. the number of mite in three host plants differed significantly (p<0.001) among seasons. the temperature had significant (p<0.05) impact on the abundance of t. urticae. similarly the highest number of p. persimilis were observed on bean (16.1), egg plant (14.5) and lady’s finger (17.1) in the month of january 2006 whereas the lowest numbers (2.9, 4.8 and 4.6) were recorded in the month of april 2006. the number of p. persimilis per leaf in three plants significantly differed (p<0.001) among different seasons