Eggplant Integrated Pest Management AN ECOLOGICAL GUIDE

__________________________________________________________________Major Natural Enemies of Eggplant Insect PestsThe adults are good flyers and can travel long distances. Adults are light green to brown in color and canbe 5 - 10 cm long. The eggs are placed in a papery mass (“egg case”) attached to a twig.EffectivenessMantids can eat many large insects per day. They do not normally actively searchfor prey but remain stationary until a suitable prey comes near enough to beattacked and captured. Mantids are not generally considered to be important inregulating insect pest populations.ConservationLike most natural enemies, praying mantids are easily killed by broad-spectruminsecticides. Avoid use of these pesticides when possible.mantid egg massWhen the egg cases of praying mantids are seen attached to trees or places outside the field, they maybe carefully removed and placed in the eggplant field. The young nymphs may start feeding on pestinsects of eggplant.6.1.7 Predatory mitesPrimary prey: spider mites, thrips.Predatory stages: nymphs and adults.DescriptionMites are not insects but belong to the order of Araneae which have 8rather than 6 legs. They are closely related to spiders. Adults have fourpairs of legs and two, rather than three, body parts. The species bestAdult predatory miteknown to farmers are the plant-feeding spider mites. There are, however,many species of beneficial predatory mites, several of which are mass reared commercially for themanagement of spider mites, thrips, and other pests in greenhouses and some field-grown crops. Theyare predatory in both the nymph and adult stages. Predatory mites are one of the most successfulcommercially available biological control agents of mites.Predatory mites are about the same size as spider mites, usually teardrop-shaped, long legged whencompared to spider mites, and often orange-red, tan, or brown. They move quickly through and aroundspider mite colonies in search of prey and, unlike spider mites, can move backwards as well as forwards.Eggs are usually oval-shaped and a little larger than the spherical eggs of spider mites. Predatory mitenymphs resemble small adults.Predatory mites can be found in most crops attacked by spider mites and thrips.Predatory mites attack all stages of spider mites. Sometimes different species of predatory mites havepreference for one or more species of spider mite. Many predatory mite species may also prey on othersmall insects such as immature thrips, and insect eggs. Predatory mites can also survive on other mitesand pollen and can survive for a number of weeks without food.The most common predatory mite species are:• Phytoseiulus persimilis. An orange-red mite, about 1 mm long. This mite cannot fly but moves aroundmuch quicker than the spider mites. In India, this predatory mite has proved to be effective againstspider mite in okra and lablab. Also in many European countries and in the USA, this predatory miteis commercially available for release in greenhouses or in the field. Results in greenhouses are verygood and hardly any pesticides need to be applied for spider mite control. Phytoseiulus needs highhumidity for effective mite control.• Amblyseius tetranychivorus, indigenous in India, was also found effective against spider mite in okra.• Amblyseius cucumeris. This predatory mite eats various thrips species; both hatching eggs andlarvae. Predatory mites also eat spider mites, several other mites, honeydew and pollen.103Eggplant Ecological Guide