Laboratory evaluation of the sublethal effects of four selective pesticides on the predatory mite Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Four selective pesticides (chlorantraniliprole, flubendiamide, spirotetramat, metaflumizone) and a conventional pesticide (abamectin) were tested against Neoseiulus cucumeris (Oudemans) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), which is often used as a biological control agent. Abamectin caused high mortality (88.75–92.50%) in N. cucumeris adult females, while the other pesticides had a reduced effect. Chlorantraniliprole was found to have a clear repellent activity against N. cucumeris adult females. Flubendiamide, spirotetramat, and metaflumizone had significant impacts on the development and predation of immature mites; spirotetramat had the greatest effect. The four selective pesticides significantly reduced prey consumption and the number of eggs produced by gravid females. Overall, chlorantraniliprole was categorized as harmless to N. cucumeris , flubendiamide and metaflumizone showed an intermediate effect, and spirotetramat had a significant sublethal effect. Our findings showed that chlorantraniliprole could be used in fields with N. cucumeris , whereas flubendiamide and metaflumizone had poor compatibility with this predatory mite. It would be counterproductive to combine the use of this biological control agent with spirotetramat.