Population dynamics and efficacy of some Selected pesticides for the control of potato mite (Polyphagotarsonemus latus, Tarsonemidae: Trombidiformes) at Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan

Field Studies were carried out on the management of potato mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus, through chemical pesticides; Confidence (Imadachlorpid), Diafinthiuran (Diafinthiuran) and Actera (Thiamethoxam) on seasonal plots of Potato crop at Gilgit Baltistan region during 2014. The pesticides were applied at their recommended doses, when the nymph of mite starts appearing and seen easily feeding on potato leaves. Data were collected after interval of 24-hours, 48-hours, 72-hours and 7 days after application of treatments, by counting the number of effected leaves having symptoms of leathery appearance, webbing and downward curling of leaves of potato plants. Overall percent damage per plant by P. latus, showed that statistically pesticide were non-significant to each other but significantly different from control plot. Seasonal mean infestation was the highest (14.18%) in the check plot while lowest infestation (1.125%) was noted in plot treated with Difenthuiron followed by Confidence and Actara 1.88 and 1.60% respectively. Population trend in spatial relation with temperature revealed that there was a positive significant correlation (p<0.005) was found between population and temperature as every increase or decrease in temperature, showed fluctuation in the population of mite in Skardu region.