This study was carried out 7 years after a first one conducted in 2013 as part of the policy of the Benin government to promote the vegetable production sector. Data collection was mostly based on a countrywide survey conducted in 25 municipalities throughout Benin, from August to December 2020. Farmers were selected based on their experience in cultivating solanaceous crops, and were interviewed to assess their perception about the severity of the spider mite Tetranychus evansi, the control method they used against this pest, and their knowledge about potential predators associated with the mites. Additionally, predatory mites associated with T. evansi in farmer fields were identified. All farmers recognized T. evansi to which they attributed local names depending on their ethnic group. They were also able to identify its damages on solanaceous crops. They indicated that outbreaks of T. evansi occurs at the end of the rainy season while their damages are more severe during the dry season. Production losses due to the mites were estimated by farmers to 27%, 24% and 22% respectively for tomato, African eggplant, pepper in the moderate damage case and 80%, 79%, 55% respectively for tomato, African eggplant and pepper in the severe damage conditions. To fight the mites, farmers generally apply heavy doses of chemical pesticides at high frequency. Pyrethroid and organophosphate compounds are the most frequently used pesticides. The only phytophagous mite recorded was T. evansi. A total of four species of predatory mites, all belonging to the phytoseiid family, were found associated with the pest on Solanaceous plants: Amblyseius swirskii, A. tamatavensis, Neoseiulus barkeri and N. longispinosus. This is the first report of the presence of N. longispinosus in Benin. Considering the high losses attributed to the pest, effective and sustainable management practices are necessary.

The authors are grateful to Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du B´enin (INRAB) through the project “Programme National de la Recherche Agricole” (PNRA) and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture of Benin (IITA-Benin) that provided financial and technical support for this research. They are also grateful to Drs OSSENI Abdel-Aziz and Elys´ee HOUEDJOFONON, AKPLA Evrard, Richard HOUNDAFOCHE for their technical assistance.

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100401

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Komi Fiaboehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5113-2159

Manuele Tamòhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5863-7421

https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2022.100401

Natural Resource Management; Plant Production and Health

Food Security; Pests of Plants; Plant Health; Smallholder Farmers

Tetranychidae; Predatory Mites; Pesticides; Pests of Plants; Benin

Africa; West Africa

Benin (Dahomey)

Central Africa Hub; Headquarters and Western Africa Hub

Journal of Agriculture and Food Research