Comparison of clofentezine and hyxythiazox with cyhexatin for integrated control of European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch)

Abstract

The ovicides clofentezine and hexythiazox were shown to be compatible with integrated control of European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), in a replicated field trial conducted over two growing seasons in an apple orchard at Batlow, New South Wales, Australia. Reduced concentrations of clofentezine (5 and 10 g a.i. per 100 litres water—normally 20 g) applied as foliar sprays to run-off, stabilized the predator/prey interaction between P. ulmi and Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten more effectively than low rates of cyhexatin (5 and 10 g a.i. per 100 litres water—normally 20 g). There was no evidence that the effectiveness of clofentezine or hexythiazox would destablize integrated control by eliminating P. ulmi and starving T. pyri. Populations of T. pyri persisted in low numbers on the trees in the absence of P. ulmi or other arthropod food sources on leaves.