Laboratory and field experiments were conducted to determine whether exposure to the chloronicotinyl insecticide, imidacloprid, affected the fecundity of an Australian predatory mite (PM)and the twospotted spider mite (TSSM). The field rate of imidacloprid increased egg production in the PM by up to 54% and a field population exposed to the insecticide more than doubled compared to a non-treated population. TSSM from Washington State increased lifetime egg production by 20-36% when sprayed with imidacloprid or fed bean leaves treated with a systemic formulation. These results will be discussed with respect to mite management on Australian stone fruit and Washington hops.
Species 1: Acarina Phytoseiidae Euseius victoriensis (Victoria's predatory Mite)
Species 2: Acarina Tetranychidae Tetranycus urticae (twospotted spider mite)
Keywords: Hormoligosis, Imidacloprid
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA