Developmental biology and impact on yield loss by two-spotted spider mite, (Tetranychus urticae) in brinjal crop

Abstract

Under lab conditions, the developmental biology of the brinjal-infested two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, was investigated. The study revealed notable differences in the developmental characteristics of male and female mites, including the incubation period, larval, protonymphal, and deutonymphal periods. For females, the overall developmental time was 11.27±0.55 days, whereas for males it was 10.47±0.20 days. Furthermore, there was a difference in adult longevity: males lived 5.76±0.17 days, whereas females lived 20.95±0.60 days. Pre-oviposition, oviposition, and post-oviposition times were reported as 2.64±0.08 days, 17.71±0.51 days, and 0.60±0.02 days, respectively, for the reproductive parameters. The observed female fecundity was 48.99±1.41 eggs, and the reported sex ratio of the progeny was 1:5.03 (Male: female). Using a paired plot technique, more research into the damage assessment produced by the two-spotted spider mite on brinjal crop cv. Green Long revealed a 21.08% loss of fruit production owing to mite infection.