EFFICACY OF CHILI FRUIT (Capsicum frutescens) EXTRACTSON RED SPIDER MITES (Tetranychus urticae)

Abstract

The study was conducted in laboratory and field conditions to evaluate the efficacy of extracts from chili pepper fruits (Capsicum frutescens) in controlling red spider mites (Tetranychus urticae). The results showed that the extracts from chilli pepper fruits has have both repellent and toxic effects on red spiders (Tetranychus urticae). The concentration of 15 g/L of chili fruit extract demonstrated up to 82.67% kill of red spider mites on the seventh day after treatment. This concentration was found to be more effective than that of 5 g/L or 10 g/L, yet its effectiveness did not significantly differ from that of 20 g/L and 25 g/L. When tested on bell pepper plants grown in a nethouse, the chili extract at 15 g/L showed a 65.4% and 58.92% effectiveness in controlling red spider mites on the fifth and seventh day after application. Furthermore, the addition of 0.1% mineral oil and dishwashing liquid increased the effectiveness of the crude chili fruit extract at 15 g/L on red mites. The chili extract at 15 g/L, with or without the addition of 0.1% mineral oil or dishwashing liquid, did not adversely impact the chili plants or the predator ladybugs that inhabit these plants..