Saffron Bulb Mite Rhizoglyphus robini (Claparede) Its Occurrence, Biology and Chemical Intervention Tactics on Saffron Corms in Kashmir, India

Saffron corms are attacked by a wide variety of arthropod pest species and mites one them. Among Arachnida class bulb mite causes considerable damage to saffron crop presence this is regular feature in its cultivation. To record the occurrence mite, field study was conducted at different growing areas Kashmir. For biology pest, laboratory Department Entomology, Faculty Horticulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University Agricultural Sciences Technology, Shalimar. The mean percent infestation from all locations revealed highest lowest 25.83 12.50 recorded Dhussu research station respectively. Passing through five active stages viz., Egg, Larva, Protonymph, Tritonymph adult completed life cycle Rhizoglyphus robini. heteromorphic deutonymph or hypopal stage sometimes produced for phoresis when population overcrowded, but not observed during study. results that females laid their eggs on corms. average incubation period egg be 6.16 ±0.78 days while as other developmental periods were 5.22 ±0.68, 5.76 ±0.52, 7.00 ±0.91 25± 50C longevity male female 27.9 ±0.44 22.9 ±0.69 efficacy doses acaricides against drenching soil with chlorpyrifos 20 EC + foliar spray cyenopyrafen 30 SC showed best 4.23 leaves stunted growth chlorosis, 97.34 flower emergence 2.23 rot.