Relative toxicity of nC24 agricultural mineral oil to Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and its possible relationship to egg ultrastructure |
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Authors: | Yingen Xue,&dagger ,G Andrew C Beattie,Alan Meats,Robert Spooner-Hart, Grant A Herron |
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Affiliation: | Centre for Plant and Food Science, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia.; School of Biological Sciences, A12, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.; NSW Department of Primary Industries, EMAI, PMB 8 Camden, NSW 2570, Australia. |
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Abstract: | The relative toxicity (LC50 values based on µg oil/cm2) is evaluated of aqueous n C24 agricultural mineral oil (AMO) emulsions to the egg, six-legged nymph (larva), eight-legged protonymph and adult stages of two-spotted mite ( Tetranychus urticae ) and its predator, Phytoseiulus persimilis , on French bean leaf discs, using a Potter spray tower to apply of the oil. The egg of P. persimilis was the least susceptible stage (LC50 444.84) and its LC50 was significantly higher than all other stages tested of either P. persimilis or T. urticae . The LC50 for adult female T. urticae (LC50 63.89) was significantly lower than the larva (LC50 93.86); however, there was no significant difference in response between the protonymph (LC50 70.44) and the larva, which were both higher than T. urticae eggs (LC50 17.55). LC50s for P. persimilis larva (LC50 43.87), protonymph (LC50 41.55) and adult female (LC50 53.34) were similar. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the egg surface of T. urticae is usually well covered with fine silk that may trap more oil and increase AMO efficacy. Other possible differences in AMO efficacy between T. urticae and P. persimilis may be due to differences in egg size, egg incubation period, egg surface structure and the presence of vulnerable respiratory cones in T. urticae eggs. Dose of 0.2–0.3% (w/w) is considered to be the most appropriate for n C24 AMOs use against T. urticae in combination with P. persimilis in integrated pest management programs. |
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Keywords: | biological control IPM mineral oil predatory mite two-spotted mite |
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