Toxicity of neonicotinoids to phytoseiid mites (Mesostigmata, Phytoseiidae)
Keywords:
phytoseiid mites, Neoseiulus californicus, Neoseiulus agrestis, fecundity, survival, juvenile stages, toxicity, Actara, ConfidorAbstract
The study aimed to evaluate the possibility of the combined use of phytoseiid mites and neonicotinoids in agricultural production. To answer this question, laboratory tests were performed. The research objects were the polyphagous phytoseiid species Neoseiulus californicus and N. agrestis, which are widely used for the protection of vegetable and ornamental crops in greenhouses. Laboratory experiments showed that treatment with the neonicotinoids Actara and Confidor at recommended field concentrations had no negative effect on the longevity or fecundity of adult mites. However, when treatments were applied to juvenile developmental stages, high contact toxicity of the preparations was observed, especially toward protonymphs, whose mortality reached 70 %. For larvae and nymphs, this показатель averaged 30–40 %. When treatment was applied at the egg stage, viability of the tested phytoseiids remained at the control level. The obtained results will serve as a methodological basis for optimizing the combined use of phytoseiids and neonicotinoids in integrated pest management systems in greenhouses.
