CONTROL OF THE BANKS GRASS MITE (ACARI, TETRANYCHIDAE) WITH BIFENTHRIN AND PROPARGITE APPLIED AT DIFFERENT GROWTH-STAGES OF CORN

Determined the effect of Zea mays growth stage on susceptibility of Oligonychus pratensis to the acaricides bifenthrin and propargite. Control of Banks grass mite by bifenthrin applied at 0.07kg (AI)/ha was best at growth at stage 3. Control of Banks grass mite did not differ among the growth stage treatments when bifenthrin was applied at 0.09kg (AI)/ha. Differential susceptibility of Banks grass mite to bifenthrin applied at 0.07kg (AI)/ha may be the result of a physiological interaction between plant biochemistry and mite susceptibility to acaricides at certain growth stages or low mite densities at application. -from Authors