Toxicity of some insecticides to Tetranychus urticae, Neoseiulus californicus and Tydeus californicus

Three mite species are frequently found on vegetable crops in Italy: the pest Tetranychus urticae Koch ( Acari: Tetranychidae), the predator Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) ( Acari: Phytoseiidae) and the unspecialised feeder Tydeus californicus ( Banks) ( Acari: Tydeidae). In laboratory trials, the direct and residual effects of six insecticides recommended for the control of aphids, whiteflies and thrips in vegetable crops, (Biopiren(R) plus ( pyrethrins), Confidor(R) ( imidacloprid), Oikos(R) ( azadirachtin), Plenum(R) (pymetrozine), Naturalis(R) (Beauveria bassiana) and Rotena(R) ( rotenone)), were evaluated for the three mite species. All the products affected the mites and their effect was often favourable towards T. urticae and unfavourable towards N. californicus and T. californicus. Rotenone was more toxic to eggs than females of T. urticae. It was highly toxic to N. californicus and caused the death of all treated females of T. californicus. Pyrethrins and imidacloprid increased T. urticae fecundity, but decreased fecundity of N. californicus. Imidacloprid decreased T. californicus fecundity more than pyrethrins. Beauveria bassiana was not toxic to T. urticae and T. californicus, but induced high mortality in the progeny of treated females of N. californicus. Azadirachtin and pymetrozine were the least toxic to T. urticae and N. californicus, but decreased production of larvae in T. californicus. Implications for integrated pest management on vegetables are discussed.