Influence of sublethal exposure to abamectin on the biological performance of Neoseiulus longispinosus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Effects of sublethal exposure to abamectin on the biological performance of Neoseiulus longispinosus (Evans) were studied under ambient laboratory conditions of 28 +/- 2 degrees C and 80 +/- 15% RH with 24 h light. The red form of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, complex (Acari: Tetranychidae), was offered as prey. The LC50 obtained from the contact bioassay at 48 h after treatment was 0.015 ppm (AI). A big change in kill for a given variation in dosage for the regression slope probably indicated that abamectin was unlikely selective. Sublethal exposure to abamectin caused a reduction in survival with the female reaching 50% mortality by the sixth day and the male 4 d later. The mean preoviposition period was extended by almost 1 d, whereas the mean oviposition period was shortened by almost 5 d causing a reduction in the mean fecundity female-1 to almost half that of the untreated females. The net reproductive rate (Ro), the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), and the finite rate of increase (lambda) of the treated females were markedly inferior. Treated males were seriously affected; the mean life span was almost half that of the untreated.