Evaluation of Five Recommended Acaricides Against the Old World Date Mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychi-dae) Infesting Date Palm Under Field Conditions in the New Valley, Egypt

Abstract

The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L. (Arecaceae) is one of the most important fruit trees cultivated in the New Valley Governorate, Egypt. The old world date mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor, 1939) is considerd as a major pest of date palm orchards in the New Valley Governorate. Herein, the toxicity of five recommended acaricides [abamectin (1.8% EC), chlorfenapyr (36% SC), fenopyroximate (5% EC), cyflumetofen (20% SC) and hexythiazox (10% WP)] were evaluated against the O. afrasiaticus in date palm, P. dactylifera (cultivar Siwi). Trials were conducted at the field of Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, New Valley University. The recommended concentrations of each pesticide were evaluated on O. afrasiaticus adults. Results were recorded after 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 days. Abamectin (1.8 % EC) and chlorfenapyr (36% SC) were considered the most potent pesticides among all the pesticides tested. The reduction percentages were 90.07 and 87.77, followed by fenopyroximate (85.22), cyflumetofen (79.94) and hexythiazox (62.89). These acaricides have been used as the first choice and considered encouraging trends in controlling O. afrasiaticus in the New Valley Governorate, Egypt.