MAJOR PESTS OF TEA AND THEIR INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT WITH A FOCUS ON TEA RED SPIDER MITE: A REVIEW

ABSTRACT: Tea Camellia sinensis L. is an aromatic crop that has become the most popular non-alcoholic beverage drink for two-thirds of the world’s population. Bangladesh contributes almost 3.0% of global tea production with high export potential through increasing the production using proper management of insect and mite pests. Tea mosquito bug, termite, thrips and looper caterpillar are the major insect pests of tea and red spider mite (RSM) is the number one mite pest. RSM draws special attention to the tea planters because of its year-round presence causing 17 to 46% crop loss. The tea gardeners use a large number of broad spectrum synthetic pesticides to control major soil-dwelling pests (termite and other soil pests), sucking pests (thrips, jassid and scale insects), chewing pests (leaf roller, looper caterpillar and flush worm) and other minor pests. The overuse of highly toxic pesticides has incurred high pest management costs, killing beneficial arthropods, causing secondary pest outbreaks, pesticide residue and other complications in tea production. Adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs could be possible solutions for these problems. The use of resistant varieties, timely adoption of cultural and mechanical practices (plucking, pruning, cleaning, sanitation, irrigation, drainage, weeding, etc.), physical practices (destruction of pests, yellow trap, light trap, etc.), biological control (conservation of predators, parasitoids), use of bio-pesticides, sex pheromones, entomopathogenic microbes (bacteria, virus, fungi), extracts of plant parts (neem seed kernel,mahogany, nishinda, ghato, michania, etc.) have been reported as eco friendly pest management techniques for RSM management. In this review paper, IPM strategies for major pests especially for RSM have been suggested. 

Keywords: Tea mosquito bug, tea red spider mite, termite, thrips, looper caterpillar.