• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.360-367
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• 1995

The relative toxicity of abamectin was assessed to the predatory mite Amblyseius womersleyi Schicha and to dicofol-resistant and -susceptible twospotted spider mite (TSM) Tetranychus urticae Koch in the laboratory. Abamectin was much les toxic to the predator than to the spider mite. At 0.12 and 0.6 ppm, all TSM adult females of the tow strains were killed within 48 h after dipping n the solutions. The lower concentrations (0.06 and 0.012 ppm) killed more than 77% of TSM female adults of the two strains at 120 h after treatment. However, abmectin did not significantly affect the survival and mobility of A. womersleyi female adults at a concentration of 0.12 ppm but the mortality was slightly increased up to 20~23% at 0.6 and 6 ppm. Abamectin did not significantly affect hatchability of one-day old TSM eggs at 0.06~0.6 ppm. The Four-day old eggs were much more susceptible to abamectin than one-day old eggs were. Within 0.006-6 ppm, abamectin did not affect the hatchability of A. womersleyi eggs and the development of resulting immature predators. When the predator female adults were dipped in 0.6 and 0.12 ppm solution, their reproduction was not affected, but at 6 ppm it was decreased by 35%. However, the reproduction of TSM reduced significantly at concentrations between 0.006 and 0.6 ppm. The differential toxicity of abamectin between TSM and the predator could be of practical importance in managing spider mite populations in the field. Abamectin at selective sublethal concentrations (i.e., 0.012~0.06 ppm) could be of value in adjusting predator/prey ratios in integrated management of spider mites.