Acute and chronic effects of two insecticide-acaricides on the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot

ABSTRACT The acute and long-term effects of two insecticide-acaricides, a mixture of spiromesifen + abamectin (S + A) and a terpenoid blend QRD 460 (TBQ), on the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii were investigated. In acute-effect studies, the field recommended dose (T) of S + A and TBQ was applied to 0–24 hours old larvae and adults using direct application or dry residue methods. The sublethal effects of S + A and TBQ on the biological properties of A. swirskii were also investigated. Both pesticides used in acute effects were found to be harmless to A. swirskii based on the IOBC classification. The lifespans of female A. swirskii individuals in the control, S + A, and TBQ groups were 26.18, 22.64, and 23.73 days and 29.28, 20.50, and 25.47 days for male individuals, respectively. Oviposition duration was 19.59, 18.31, and 17.89 days in control, TBQ, and S + A groups, respectively. The mean number of eggs was 31.72, 26.61, and 26.00 eggs/female in control, S + A, and TBQ-treated individuals, respectively. The two most important parameters of the life table, R0 and rm values, were 31.72 females/female and 0.200 females/female/day for the control, respectively. According to the laboratory results of this study, S + A mixture formulation and TBQ have potential for use in integrated pest management in combination with the beneficial A. swirskii mite. However, the effects of these pesticides on A. swirskii should also be determined in greenhouse and field conditions.