Skip to main content

Systemic Use of Spinosad to Control the Two-spotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Tomatoes Grown in Rockwool

Experimental & Applied Acarology volume 37, pages 93–105 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Spinosad is a reduced-risk insecticide derived as a fermentation product from the soil actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa. It is toxic by ingestion and contact and has a unique mode of action on the insect nervous system. Spinosad exhibits a high degree of selective toxicity towards the insect orders Lepidoptera, Diptera and Thysanoptera, but is less toxic to many beneficial arthropods. To determine if spinosad could be valuable as an alternative acaricide for the control of Tetranychus urticae, laboratory toxicity experiments with leaf-disk bio-assays were performed on a laboratory susceptible and several resistant strains. LC50 values were rather high in comparison with newly developed commercial acaricides. Surprisingly, when spinosad was applied to the roots of tomato plants in rock wool, excellent control of spider mites was obtained. Apparently, spinosad has systemic properties and quantities as low as 1 mg/plant could protect tomato plants from mite infestation. Different substrates with varying percentage of clay and organic matter were tested in comparison with rockwool and showed that sufficient control was restricted to the rockwool substrate. Consequently, a dose–response experiment with tomato plants grown in rockwool was set up. The persistence of spinosad toxicity when applied via the roots was determined, and pointed to a long lasting control (up to 30 DAT). Spinosad amounts in leaves after systemic application were determined with an immunological technique to quantify spinosad uptake. Correlations between mite control, spinosad uptake and leaf concentrations can be helpful to determine the necessary dose in field situations.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

43,34 €

Price includes VAT (Finland)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • W.S. Abbott (1925) ArticleTitleA method for computing the effectiveness of an insecticide J. Econ. Entomol. 18 265–267

    Google Scholar 

  • B.L. Bret L.L. Larson J.R. Schoonover T.C. Sparks G.D. Thompson (1997) ArticleTitleBiological properties of spinosad Down To Earth 52 6–13

    Google Scholar 

  • G.G. Briggs R.H. Bromilov A.A. Evans (1982) ArticleTitleRelationship between lipophilicity and root uptake and translocation on non-ionised chemicals by barley Pest. Sci. 13 495–504

    Google Scholar 

  • G.G. Briggs R.L.O. Rigitano R.H. Bromilow (1987) ArticleTitlePhysiochemical factors affecting the uptake by roots and translocation to shoots of weak acids in barley Pest. Sci. 19 101–112

    Google Scholar 

  • L.G. Copping J.J. Menn (2000) ArticleTitleBiopesticides: a review of their action, application and efficacy Pest Manag. Sci. 56 651–667 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1526-4998(200008)56:8<651::AID-PS201>3.0.CO;2-U

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R.S. Cowles E.A. Cowles A.M. McDermott D. Ramoutar (2000) ArticleTitle“Inert” formulation ingredients with activity: toxicity of trisiloxane surfactant solutions to twospotted spider mites (Acari : Tetranychidae) J. Econ. Entomol. 93 180–188 Occurrence Handle10826161

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • R.S. Cowles (1998) ArticleTitleEffect of spinosad formulations and other miticides on twospotted spider mite Arthr. Manag. Tests 23 342–343

    Google Scholar 

  • J.E. Cranham W. Helle (1985) Pesticide resistance in Tetranychidae W. Helle M.W. Sabelis (Eds) Spider Mites, their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control, volume 1B Elsevier Amsterdam 458

    Google Scholar 

  • G.D. Crouse T.C. Sparks J. Schoonover J. Gifford J. Dripps T. Bruce L.L. Larson J. Garlich C. Hatton R.L. Hill T.V. Worden J.G. Martynow (2001) ArticleTitleRecent advances in the chemistry of spinosyns Pest Manag. Sci. 57 177–185 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1526-4998(200102)57:2<177::AID-PS281>3.0.CO;2-Z Occurrence Handle11455648

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • I. Denholm M.W. Rowland (1992) ArticleTitleTactics for managing pesticide resistance in arthropods: theory and practice Ann. Rev. Entomol. 37 91–112 Occurrence Handle10.1146/annurev.en.37.010192.000515

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.S. Ferguson (2004) ArticleTitleDevelopment and stability of insecticide resistance in the leafminer Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae) to cryomazineabamectine and spinosad J. Econ. Entomol. 97 112–119 Occurrence Handle14998134

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J. Inoue K. Chamberlain R.H. Bromilow (1998) ArticleTitlePhysicochemical factors affecting the uptake by roots and translocation to shoots of amine bases in barley Pestic. Sci. 54 8–21 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1096-9063(199809)54:1<8::AID-PS793>3.0.CO;2-E

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Y. Kageyama K. Konishi (1988) ArticleTitleMorphological and Physiological characteristics of tomato plans grown in nutrient solution in comparison with those grown in soil J. Japan. Hort. Sci. 57 408–417

    Google Scholar 

  • W.S. Kollman (2002) Environmental fate of Spinosad Department of Pesticide Regulation SacramentoCalifornia 15

    Google Scholar 

  • V.L. Salgado (1998) ArticleTitleStudies on the mode of action of spinosad: insect symptoms and physiological correlates Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 60 91–102 Occurrence Handle10.1006/pest.1998.2332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.G. Saunders B.L. Bret (1997) ArticleTitleFate of spinosad in the environment Down To Earth. 52 14–20

    Google Scholar 

  • A.H. Sayyed D. Omar D.J. Wright (2004) ArticleTitleGenetics of spinosad resistance in a multi-resistant field selected population of Plutella xylostella Pest Manag. Sci. 60 827–832 Occurrence Handle10.1002/ps.869 Occurrence Handle15307676

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T.C. Sparks G.D. Thompson H.A. Kirst M.B. Hertlein J.S. Mynderse J.R. Turner T.V. Worden (1998) Fermentation-derived insect control agents the spinosyns F.R. Hall J.J. Menn (Eds) Biotechnology, Biopesticides: Use and Delivery Humana Press Totowa, NewYork 171–188

    Google Scholar 

  • T.C. Sparks G.D. Thompson L.L. Larson H.A. Kirst O.K. Jantz T.V. Worden M.B. Hertlein J.D. Busacca (1995) ArticleTitleBiological characteristics of the spionosyns: a new naturally derived insect control agent Proc. Beltwide Cotton Conf. 2 903–907

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Tedeschi A. Alma L. Tavella (2001) ArticleTitleSide-effects of three neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) products on the predator Macrolophus caliginosus Wagner (Het., Miridae) J. Appl. Entomol 125 397–402 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1439-0418.2001.00563.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G.D. Thompson K.H. Michel R.C. Yao J.S. Mynderse C.T. Mosburg T.V. Worden E.H. Chio T.C. Sparks S.H. Hutchins (1997) ArticleTitleThe discovery of Saccharopolyspora spinosaa new class of insect control products Down To Earth 52 1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • G.D. Thompson R Dutton T. Sparks (2000) ArticleTitleSpinosad  – a case study: an example from a natural products discovery programma Pest Manag. Sci. 56 696–702 Occurrence Handle10.1002/1526-4998(200008)56:8<696::AID-PS182>3.0.CO;2-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • G.D. Thompson (2002) ArticleTitleFate of spinosad in litter and soils of a mixed conifer stand in the acadian forest region of New Brunswick J. Agric. Food Chem. 50 790–795 Occurrence Handle10.1021/jf011319l Occurrence Handle11829646

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T. Van Leeuwen V. Stillatus L. Tirry (2004) ArticleTitleGenetic analysis and cross-resistance spectrum of a laboratory-selected chlorfenapyr resistant strain of two-spotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae Exp. Appl. Acarol. 32 249–261 Occurrence Handle10.1023/B:APPA.0000023240.01937.6d Occurrence Handle15176730

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T. Van Leeuwen S. Van Pottelberge L. Tirry (2005) ArticleTitleComparative acaricide susceptibility and detoxifying enzyme activities in a field collected resistant and susceptible strain of Tetranychus urticae Pest Manag. Sci. 61 499–507 Occurrence Handle10.1002/ps.1001 Occurrence Handle15657956

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • T. Williams J. Valle E. Viñuela (2003) ArticleTitleIs the naturally derived insecticide spinosad ® compatible with insect natural ennemies? Biocontrol Science and Technology 13 459–479 Occurrence Handle10.1080/0958315031000140956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.L. Young C.A. Mihaliak S.D. West K.A. Hanselman R.A. Collins A.M. Philips C.K. Robb (2000) ArticleTitleDetermination of spinosad and its metabolites in food and environmental matrices J. Agric. Food Chem. 48 5146–5153 Occurrence Handle10.1021/jf000322m Occurrence Handle11087450

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • J.Z. Zhao Y.X. Li H.L. Collins L. Gusukuma-Minuto R.F.L. Mau G.D. Thompson A.M. Shelton (2002) ArticleTitleMonitoring and characterization of diamond back moth (Lepidoptera) resistance to spinosad J. Econ. Entomol. 95 430–436 Occurrence Handle12020024

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Crop Protection, Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    T. van Leeuwen, W. Dermauw, M. Van De Veire & L. Tirry

Authors
  1. T. van Leeuwen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Dermauw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Van De Veire
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L. Tirry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to T. van Leeuwen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

van Leeuwen, T., Dermauw, W., Van De Veire, M. et al. Systemic Use of Spinosad to Control the Two-spotted Spider Mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on Tomatoes Grown in Rockwool. Exp Appl Acarol 37, 93–105 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-005-0139-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10493-005-0139-8

Keywords

  • Spinosad
  • Systemic
  • Tetranychus urticae
  • Toxicity
  • Xylem