Seasonal incidence of panicle mite (Steneotarsonemus spinki smiley) on rice in Bilaspur District of Chhattisgarh plains

The present investigation entitled studies on rice panicle mite (Steneotarsonemus spinki Smiley) with special reference to seasonal incidence was conducted in the Research-cum-Instructional farm of BTC CARS Bilaspur (C.G) during Kharif season of 2023. The rice panicle mite first appeared during the 38^th Standard Meteorological Week (SMW) (15^th -21^st September) with a mean population of 6.50 mites/2 cm leaf sheath during vegetative stage of the crop. The population continued to build up and attended peak in the 42^nd SMW (third week of October) with 28.00 mites/2 cm leaf sheath during reproductive stage of the crop. The population then gradually declined, reaching its minimum level of 3.20 mites/2 cm leaf sheath during late November (48^th SMW) at maturity stage of crop. The seasonal incidence studies of panicle mite revealed significant positive correlation with sunshine hours (r = 0.716). While, its showed significant negative correlation with minimum temperature (r = -0.582*), evening relative humidity (r = -0.852**), and wind speed (r = -0.672**). Regression equations indicated that seasonal fluctuation in the mite population are influenced by these weather factors. The incidence of the panicle mite, Steneotarsonemus spinki, was observed from the vegetative to maturity stages of rice crops.