RELATIVE TOXICITY OF ABAMECTIN TO THE PREDATORY MITE PHYTOSEIULUS-PERSIMILIS (ACARI, PHYTOSEIIDAE) AND 2-SPOTTED SPIDER-MITE (ACARI, TETRANYCHIDAE)

Abamectin was much less toxic to the predator than to Tetranychus urticae. At concentrations of 0.08-16 ppm, abamectin did not significantly affect the survival and mobility of P. persimilis, but reproduction was significantly reduced at high concentrations (8 and l6ppm). Adult female predators survived on a diet of spider mites intoxicated with abamectin, although their reproductive rate was decreased by 27 to 53%. Abamectin at selective sublethal concentrations (1-4ppm) could be of value in adjusting predator/prey ratios in integrated management of spider mites. -from Authors