Biology and life studies of Tetranychus macfarlanei on okra

Abstract

Present experiment was carried out on biology and life studies of red spider mite, Tetranychus macfarlanei on okra under laboratory conditions at 30.8-35.1 0 C temperature and 64.5-74% relative humidity at Dr. P. D. K. V., Akola. The total developmental period of T. macfarlanei from egg to adult emergence is recorded less in male (9.0 ± 0.17 days) than female (10.32 ± 0.19 days). T. macfarlanei showed a sexual and arrhenotokous parthenogenesis. Mated female produced a progeny in the ratio 1 male: 4.14 females; whereas, unmated female produced only males. Egg viability was recorded as 93.2 ± 1.17 percent. Adult longevity for male, mated female and unmated female was 11.05 ± 0.99 days, 11.68 ± 1.68 days and 12.45 ± 1.48 days respectively.