Toxicity Pesticides used in Greenhouses and Promising for Predatory Mite Neoseiulus Barkeri (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

Abstract A type of a phytoseiid mite Neoseiulus barkeri Hughes, acclimatized in industrial greenhouses on the cucumber culture (of Matveevsky, Moscow region) has been identified in protected soil on the territory of the Russian Federation. The key factor of successful survival of this population in protected cultivation perhaps should be considered the formation of mite resistance to some pesticides used in greenhouses. In particular, to avermectin pesticides, which have been occupying a leading position for more than 20 years in the protected soil of Russia. According to the classification of pesticides side effects on organisms used in biological protection, such pesticides as Confidor Extra, Nocturne are considered to be low-risk. They cause the mortality of predatory mite N. barkeri females, not exceeding 25%. The most promising from our point of view is the safest acaricide Scelta (mortality of females at the recommended rate of 4,4%). Therefore, these pesticides may be recommended for use in combination with the predatory mite N. barkeri when introducing environmentalized/green programs of integrated control of the number of dangerous species of harmful arthropods under conditions of protected soil.