Seasonal Trend of Green Spider Mite, Mononychellus Tanajoa Population on Cassava, Manihot Esculenta and its Relationship with Weather Factors at Moor Plantation

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Abstract
The population of green spider mite M. tanaioa (Bondar) was monitored on cassava for 52 wk (mid Oct. 1979-mid Oct. 1980) at Moor Plantation, Ibadan, Nigeria. The mite population was high in the dry season (80.1 .+-. 57.7/leaf) and low in the wet season (15.2 .+-. 13.5). There was a linear relationship between mite population and the weather factors investigated. The relationship was positive in the cases of temperature and solar radiation, and negative in those of rainfall and humidity. The high mite population in the dry season was attributed to the high temperature (27.9 .+-. 1.26.degree. C) and radiation (39.1 .+-. 7.86) conditions which favored development of the different stages in the life cycle of the mite. The low population in the wet season was attributed to the adverse effects of high rainfall (56.31 .+-. 33.14 mm) and humidity (87.29 .+-. 2.36%) on the mites. Seasonal fluctuations in mite population was attributed to the physiological condition of the host plant.