The Pesticide Tolerance of Typhlodromus fallacis (Garman) and Phytoseiulus persimilis A. H. with Some Observations on the Predator Efficiency of P. persimilis
Two species of predaceous typhlodromid mites Typhlodromus fallacie (Garman) and Phytoseiulus persimilis A.-H. are important natural biological agents in the suppression of spider mite populations. A study was made to determine the possibility of developing an integrated biological-chemical control program by selecting pesticides least toxic to the typhlodromids and yet effective as control for diseases and insects on the host crops. Of 31 pesticides tested, the predaceous mites tolerated residues of 12 chemicals that included the insecticides aldrin, dieldrin and endrin; the acaricides Aramitc® (2-(p-tert-butylphenoxy) isopropyl 2-chloroethyl sulfite), chlorobenzilate, Kelthane® (1,1-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2-trichloroethanol), tetradifon, and ovex; and the fungicides captan, maneb, Folpet® (N-(trichloromethylthio) phthalimide), and zineb. The results of present studies encourage further investigations to evaluate the control of spider mite populations using predator mite releases alone or in combination with a selective spray program.