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Spiromesifen toxicity to the spider mite Tetranychus urticae and selectivity to the predator Neoseiulus californicus

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Abstract

Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is a major pest of several agricultural crops and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) is an important natural enemy of this pest mite. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of spiromesifen on the development and reproduction of T. urticae, and to assess the influence of spiromesifen and other acaricides on the population growth rates of the spider mite and its predator, N. californicus. Toxicity tests with spiromesifen at different life stages of T. urticae indicated that eggs less than 72 h old were more sensitive than other development stages. The oviposition rate of T. urticae was significantly affected by spiromesifen. Experiments on the effects of spiromesifen on the growth rates of T. urticae and N. californicus indicated that spiromesifen is innocuous to the predaceous mite but highly toxic to the spider mite, leading to population suppression in 10 days. Fenpropathrin, acephate and neem oil were not harmful to N. californicus, but were not so efficient as spiromesifen in controlling T. urticae, and had significantly less influence on the population growth rates of the spider mite. Among these three products, only neem oil caused significant reduction in the growth rate of T. urticae. Chlorfenapyr, abamectin, milbemectin and diafenthiuron significantly affected the population growth rates of T. urticae and N. californicus. Spiromesifen was the most promising acaricide for managing the two-spotted spider mite, when used in combination with N. californicus.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) for funding this research (Process # 2007/08612-4) and for the scholarship awarded to Roberto L. Nicastro (Process # 2007/02748-1). We would also like to thank CNPq-Brazil (The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development) for providing the scholarship to Bruce Veronez and the research fellowship to the first and third authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Acarology, Biological Institute, CEP 13092-543, Campinas City, São Paulo, Brazil

    Mario E. Sato, Marcos Z. da Silva, Katia G. Cangani, Bruce Veronez & Roberto L. Nicastro

  2. Laboratory of Economic Entomology, Biological Institute, CEP 13092-543, Campinas City, São Paulo, Brazil

    Adalton Raga

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  1. Mario E. Sato
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  2. Marcos Z. da Silva
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  3. Adalton Raga
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  4. Katia G. Cangani
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  5. Bruce Veronez
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  6. Roberto L. Nicastro
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Correspondence to Mario E. Sato.

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Sato, M.E., da Silva, M.Z., Raga, A. et al. Spiromesifen toxicity to the spider mite Tetranychus urticae and selectivity to the predator Neoseiulus californicus . Phytoparasitica 39, 437–445 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-011-0189-x

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