The economic threshold level of the mustard aphid,Lipaphis erysimi(Kaltenbach) was determined on the radish seed crop, var Punjab Sufed. Spraying oxydemeton methyl at 300 g a.i./ ha, was monitored at arbitrary set aphid levels from 25 to 150 aphids/plant. The maximum cost benefit ratio (1: 13.1) was achieved at an aphid level of 50 per plant, requiring three sprays. Spraying in the middle of February was the most crucial, as delay of 7 days from this stage resulted in significant decreases in yield in the fixed spray schedule and at the 75‐aphid level.