Not all predators are equal: miticide non-target effects and differential selectivity

Biological control in conventional agroecosystems involves the integration of chemical and conservation tactics, requiring knowledge of pesticide non-target effects on key natural enemies. Even for natural enemy groups such as predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae), where pesticide non-target effects have been thoroughly examined, there may be significant differences in species susceptibility to specific active ingredients, including newer selective products. Using bioassays, we examined lethal (female mortality) and sublethal (fecundity, egg hatch, larval survival) effects of ten miticides on a spider mite pest (Tetranychus urticae) and three insectary-purchased predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis, Neoseiulus californicus, and N. fallacis) commonly used for its management. Susceptibility of field-collected and insectary-reared populations of P. persimilis was also compared. Cumulative impacts on production of larvae by treated female spider mites and predators were compared to create a metric that simultaneously accounted for miticide efficacy and selectivity.

Bifenthrin was the least selective, as it caused acute toxicity to all predators and had little efficacy against T. urticae. Hexythiazox and cyflumetofen were the most selectively favorable. Phytoseiulus persimilis populations were similar in which miticides they were sensitive to, although the insectary-purchased population was generally more sensitive.

All products, including those considered selective (cyflumetofen, bifenazate, acequinocyl) had non-target effects on at least one species of predator tested. This work emphasizes that there is high variability in selectivity among species, highlighting the need to examine key natural enemies individually when creating management programs. Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.