EFFICACY OF TWO ESSENTIAL OIL EXTRACTS AND PREDATORY MITE Phytoseiulus persimilis IN SUPPRESSING THE POPULATION OF THE TWO-SPOTTED SPIDER MITE, Tetranychus urticae KOCH

The potential of two plant extracts (peppermint Mentha piperita L. and clove Syzygium aromaticum L.) and a predatory mite species (Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot) as well as their combinations were evaluated for their effect in reducing the population densities of the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, on detached mulberry leaves (Morus nigra L.). The results of control pest experiment on the eight treatments showed that the total of spider mite populations was significantly different among treatments (F7, 136= 32. 74; P 0.001). Likewise, the reduction percentage of the spider mite populations was significantly different among on the seven treatments (F6, 105 = 3.01; P 0.01). The highest total average number of spider mite population reduction was exhibited in the combination of P. persimilis with peppermint and clove together from all treatments The total average number of spider mite population in the combination of P. persimilis with peppermint and clove together was significantly highest from all treatments (9.07 individual; with 97.93% redaction; LSD; P 0.05), except the combination of P. persimilis with peppermint extract (9.67 individual; with 97.52% redaction), the combination of P. persimilis with clove extract (11.19 individual; with 96.55% redaction) or P. persimilis alone (11.28 individual; with 96.36% redaction). The lowest total average number of spider mite population was recorded for the clove extract alone, which was significantly different from all treatments (36.37 individual; with 83.17% redaction; LSD; P 0.05) except peppermint extract alone (24.66 individual with 89.12% redaction). These experiments suggested that releasing P. persimilis alone or its combinations are more favourable strategy for suppression of spider mite T. urticae.