Journal of Economic Entomology (2019) 112, 213-218

Vaneska B. Monteiro, Debora B. Lima, José W.S. Melo, Raul Narciso C. Guedes and Manoel G.C. Gondim (2019)
Acaricide-mediated colonization of mite-infested coconuts by the predatory phytoseiid Neoseiulus baraki (Acari: Phytoseiidae)
Journal of Economic Entomology 112 (1), 213-218
Abstract: Walking is important to dispersal on plants and colonization of new plants by predatory mites, and this activity is potentially affected by the presence of acaricides. This possibility was investigated in coconut fruits infested with the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), where colonization by the predator Neoseiulus baraki (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was monitored. The following acaricides were evaluated for influence on the process of colonization by the predatory mite: abamectin, azadirachtin, and fenpyroximate. Water-treated fruits were used for comparison. Experiments were conducted with and without freedom of choice on coconut fruits with the release and recapture of females of N. baraki marked with fluorescent ink. A confinement experiment was also carried out on coconut bunch rachis sprayed or not sprayed with the acaricides. The predatory mite N. baraki avoided contact with acaricide-contaminated areas. After the predators were released on the fruits or bunch rachis, larger numbers were recaptured under the bracts than on the surface of the fruits. The number of predators recaptured in all experiments was lower in the treatments with acaricides than in the control. Among the acaricides tested, azadirachtin least affected N. baraki colonization. Therefore, the presence of the tested acaricides indeed interferes with N. baraki dispersal within plants and the coconut fruit colonization.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Raul Narciso C. Guedes

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
control - general
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance to pesticides

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Aceria guerreronis	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)
Neoseiulus baraki (predator)	Aceria guerreronis	Coconut (Cocos nucifera)