The impact of Cyflumetofen on demographic parameters of two predatory mites, Neoseiulus californicus (M-G) and Phytoseiulus persimilis (A-H)

Abstract

The assessment of the long-term negative effects of acaricides on the target and non-target mites can help determine the toxicity and side effects of acaricides. The sublethal concentrations can be very precise and affect populations at concentrations lower than the conventional concentration and may supplement our knowledge about its sublethal effects on the physiology and behavior of insects/mites. Furthermore, we exposed the adults' biocontrol agents mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Neoseuilus californicus McGregor, to the LC10 and LC30 concentrations of the Cyflumetofen and then assayed the effects of these concentrations on the growth and development of the next generations under laboratory conditions. Analyzed data showed that sublethal concentrations of cyflumetofen significantly affected both species' biological parameters, including the total lifetime, fecundity, and longevity of the treated biocontrol agents compared with the control treatment. Due to our results, when P. persimilis and N. californicus adults were exposed to LC30 concentration of cyflumetofen, the length of the oviposition period of the treated P.persimilis and N. californicus were 20.34 and 19.66 days, respectively. At the same time, these values for the control-treated P. persimilis and N. californicus were 22.51 and 22.21, respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) in control were 0.203 and 0.238, while those treated with LC10 and LC30 of cyflumetofen were estimated to be 0.238 and 0.214 for P. persimilis and 0.203 and 0.223 days−1, for N. californicus, respectively. Therefore, using sublethal concentrations of cyflumetofen is emphasized for designing integrated pest management programs and makes it possible to use biocontrol agents to control the spider mite; thus, it would benefit the farmers and consumers in the long run.