Control of Twospotted Spider Mite in Peanut, 1993

Selected pesticides were evaluated for control of TSSM in cv. ‘NC-10’ Virginia-type peanut in Suffolk, VA. Peanuts were planted using a 36-inch row spacing. Treatments were applied on 28 Jul and again on 10 Aug using a CO2-pressurized back-pack sprayer calibrated to deliver 14.5 gal formulation per acre at 50 psi through three D2-13 disc-core hollow cone spray nozzles per row, 1 over the top and 1 on each side. A RCBD was used with 4 replicates; plots were 4 rows × 20 ft. Treatments were evaluated on 28, 30 Jul and on 3, 5, 10, 13, 20, and 29 Aug by comparing the number of live mites in a 1.5 cm diam area on 4 randomly-selected leaflets per plot. Mite counts were made in the field using 10X magnification lenses. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and LSD statistical procedures. A cumulative index (CI) was calculated for each treatment using ∑(Xi+1 - Xi)[(Yi + Yi+1)/2], where Xi, and Xi+1, are adjacent sample dates and Yi and Yi+1, are corresponding points of total mite number.