Effects of Acaricides on the Functional and Numerical Responses of the Phytoseid Predator Neoseiulus idaeus (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to Spider Mite Eggs

• Published in: Journal of economic entomology Vol. 113; no. 4; pp. 1804 - 1809
• Main Authors: de Sousa Neto, E. P, Mendes, J. de A, Filgueiras, R. M. C, Lima, D. B, Guedes, R. N. C, Melo, J. W. S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: US Entomological Society of America 13-08-2020; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Abamectin; Acaricides; Agricultural pests; Analysis; Animals; Arid environments; Azadirachtin; Chemical pest control; ECOTOXICOLOGY; Eggs; Female; Fungicides; Insecticides; Integrated control; integrated pest management; Life cycles; Mites; Natural enemies; natural enemy; Neoseiulus idaeus; Oviposition; Pest control; Pest Control, Biological; pesticide; Pesticides; Pests; Phytoseiidae; Predatory Behavior; Prey; sublethal effect; Tetranychidae; Tetranychus urticae; Brazil; natural enemy; sublethal effect; pesticide; integrated pest management; Tetranychus urticae
• ISSN: 0022-0493; 1938-291X
• DOI: 10.1093/jee/toaa101

Integrated control tactics are often necessary for pest management. This is especially true for organisms such as the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The management of this mite pest species relies on pesticide use, but its short life cycle associated with high selection pressure results in frequent problems of acaricide resistance and population outbreaks. Therefore, combining acaricides and natural enemies is an appealing strategy for managing this pest species. The predatory mite Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae) is important in arid environments, where other natural enemies show low efficacy. Thus, we investigated the effects of representative acaricides used for managing spider mites around the world in several crops (i.e., abamectin, fenpyroximate, and azadirachtin), on the functional and numerical responses of the phytoseid predator N. idaeus to increasing egg densities of its prey. Acaricide exposure did not affect the type of N. idaeus functional response or attack rate (a). However, acaricide exposure decreased the amount of consumed prey and increased prey handling time (Th). All acaricides affected the numerical response of the predator, which reduced oviposition rates. Therefore, caution is required in attempts to integrate the control methods.