The tea red spider mite, Oligonychus coffeae
Nietner (Tetranychidae), is an economically important pest
of agricultural and ornamental crops and considered one of
the major pests of tea plants in North-east India. In view of
increasing resistance recorded in insect and mite pests
against pesticides, a study was conducted to determine the
acaricidal, antiovipositional, repellent and ovicidal activities
of clove oil (an essential oil from the clove plant,
Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. & Perry: Myrtaceae)
against tea-red-spider-mite. Mortality of O. coffeae varied
with the concentrations and the duration of exposure time
of the mites after application of oil. Rate of deposition of
eggs by mites on treated leaf surfaces as well as the viability
rate of eggs decreased significantly. In addition,
certain concentrations of clove oil have been proved
effective against adult mites.