Effects of systemic applications of imidacloprid on boxwood spider mite abundance, fecundity, feeding damage and the mobility, feeding rates, and survival of associated predators

Imidacloprid is one of the most widely used insecticides for managing insect pests on woody landscape plants. Following applications of imidacloprid to the soil, outbreaks of spider mites have been observed on a variety of landscape plants. Here we report on the effects of soil applications of imidacloprid to boxwoods and associated changes in the spider mites abundance, fecundity, and their damage. We also report on behavioral responses and survival of predators exposed to tainted mites.