Red  Spider Mite in cotton

Highly polyphagous and found throughout the country. Also attack Brinjal, Tomato, Pigeon pea etc.

Appearance:

Adult female is oval, generally red sometimes greenish amber or rusty green with two large pigmented spots on body. Nymph is light brown in color with two eye spots and four pairs of legs.

Life cycle:

Completes life cycle in 9-19 days.

Nature of damage:

• Nymphs and adults form fine web on the undersurface of leaves and suck cell sap.

• Lamina starts reddening from its attachment to the petiole and extends to the entire lamina.

    Feeding site becomes whitish                                  Reddening

Damage symptoms:

Leaf becomes hard, crisp and falls.

Factors responsible for the incidence:

Prolonged drought and hot weather encourage multiplication.