Incorporation of Biorational Insecticides with Neonicotinoids to Combat Resurgence of Tetranychus urticae (Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) on Rose

Abstract

Rose plants were treated with 2 neonicotinoids (imidacloprid and acetamiprid), 3 biorationals (spinosad, emamectin benzoate, and Beauveria bassiana [Bals.-Criv.] Vuill. [Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae]), and combinations of neonicotinoids and biorationals to control two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch; Prostigmata: Tetranychidae) on rose. Toxicity bioassays revealed that imidacloprid drench, imidacloprid foliar applications, and acetamiprid treatments significantly increased spider mite numbers, whereas treatments with spinosad or with emamectin either alone or in combinations with imidacloprid and acetamiprid resulted in significantly fewer spider mites compared with the untreated control. Beauveria bassiana was least effective in controlling the spider mite population. The fecundity experiment indicated that the imidacloprid drench and foliar treatments significantly increased the number of mite eggs produced during observation days up to 9 d after treatment (DAT) for the drench treatment and up to 7 DAT for the foliar treatments. Acetamiprid did not induce any significant changes in spider mite egg production. Spinosad, emamectin, and B. bassiana alone or in combinations induced significant reductions in egg numbers compared with the control at almost all observation days. Both preference and non-preference tests indicated that the drench and the foliar applications with imidacloprid resulted in significantly more spider mites on treated leaf discs at 5 and 7 DAT than on untreated leaves. In conclusion, spinosad and emamectin in combinations with the neonicotinoids can be incorporated into the integrated pest management of the two-spotted spider mite on roses.