The effect of spiromesifen on the reproductive potential of Tetranychus urticae koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

SUMMARYLaboratory bioassays were conducted to evaluate the effects of spiromesifen on the fecundity, fertility and population growth of two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) after treatment of pre-ovipositing females with five acaricide concentrations: 180 mg/l (maximum recommended concentration for use in glasshouses against spider mites), 18 mg/l, 1.8 mg/l and 0.18 mg/l (the last one was discriminative for eggs and immatures in preliminary studies, i.e. produced 100% mortality of those stages) and 0.018 mg/l. After 24h exposure, the percentages of females surviving treatment without visible symptoms of poisoning were 50% (180 mg/l), 45% (18 mg/l), 51% (1.8 mg/l), 74% (0.18 mg/l), 96% (0.018 mg/l) and 98% (0 mg/l). Over the first four days after treatment, the females that survived 180 mg/l and 18 mg/l laid no eggs. The total number of eggs laid after treatment with these two concentrations was reduced to less than 2% against the control by the end of the trial. The females that survived 1.8 mg/l laid 50% less eggs, compared to the control, while the number of eggs laid by the females treated with 0.18 mg/l and 0.018 mg/l were 19% and 4% lower, respectively. Over the initial four days, egg hatch rates in treatments were 73-87%, and 92-93% in the control. Significant statistical differences between gross fecundity (FCg) and gross fertility (FTg) values in the control and treatments were detected for females surviving 180 mg/l, 18 mg/l and 1.8 mg/l. On the other hand, only the net fertility (FTn) value of females treated with 0.018 mg/l showed no statistically significant difference from the control value. Treatments with 180 mg/l and 18 mg/l significantly reduced the instantaneous rate of increase (r i ) 6, 8 and 10 days after treatment, compared to the control. The negative r i values in those treatments indicated a declining population. Sublethal effects of spiromesifen and its impact on T. urticae management are discussed.

Sublethal effects of spiromesifen on life table traits of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

“…Meanwhile, (Marcic et al 2010) showed that spiromesifen at different concentrations had a significant negative impact on the fecundity and net fertility of T. urticae. In another study, Marcic et al (2009) recorded that the two-spotted spider mite population growth rates and fecundity were significantly reduced after exposure with spiromesifen. Besides, Marcic (2007) reported that spirodiclofen significantly affected the survival rate and total fecundity of T. urticae.…”