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Outbreaks of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) are caused by broad-spectrum insecticide spraying in apple orchards

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Abstract

In this study I investigated whether the resurgence of Tetranychus urticae Koch in apple orchards in Akita Prefecture has occurred because of broad-spectrum insecticide spraying. Plots of two management types were established. Plot A was managed for conservation of phytoseiid mites by selective chemical spraying without mowing in both 2012 and 2013. Plot B was managed by not mowing in either year, with selective chemical spraying in 2012 and spraying of pyrethroids at two-week intervals from late May to early August in 2013. In 2012, there was no significant difference between numbers of T. urticae and phytoseiid mites [Typhlodromus vulgaris (Ehara), Neoseiulus womersleyi (Schicha), and Amblyseius tsugawai (Ehara)] in the two plots. In 2013, T. urticae was present in small numbers only in plot A and T. vulgaris and A. tsugawai were observed continuously, whereas in plot B phytoseiid mites were seldom observed and T. urticae numbers increased rapidly to a peak in mid-August. These findings clearly indicate that outbreaks of T. urticae are caused by broad-spectrum insecticide spraying in apple orchards.

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Acknowledgments

I thank A. Oda, A. Sato, and K. Kagaya of the Akita Fruit Tree Experiment Station for their assistance with the field work. This research was financially supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, through a research project entitled “Development of technologies for mitigation and adaptation to climate change in agriculture, forestry and fisheries”.

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  1. Akita Fruit Tree Experimental Station, Yokote, Akita, 013-0102, Japan

    Ken Funayama

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  1. Ken Funayama
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Correspondence to Ken Funayama.

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Funayama, K. Outbreaks of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) are caused by broad-spectrum insecticide spraying in apple orchards. Appl Entomol Zool 50, 169–174 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-014-0318-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-014-0318-3

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