Sublethal effects of bifenazate on life history and population parameters of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Abstract

Traditional estimating only by measuring the lethal effect of acaricides may underestimate the total effects of acaricides on the pest mites. In order to investigate the sublethal effect of bifenazate on life history and population parameters of the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, the newly emerged females were treated with two lethal concentrations of bifenazate: LC10 (4.92 μg/mL) and LC20 (8.77 μg/mL). Subsequently, the development and fecundity of the progeny generations were observed. Compared to the control, exposure to the 10% lethal concentrations (LC10) and LC20 of bifenazate severely affected the parental generation of T. urticae, including survival rate (reduced 9% and 13%), oviposition period (reduced 77.6% and 83.1%), fecundity per female (decreased 89.2% and 76.9%) and longevity (decreased 79.2% and 83.1%). Besides, the population parameters of the progeny generation from the treated females were also investigated. The results showed that the progeny generation had lower intrinsic rate of increase (rm) and finite rate of increase (λ), longer mean generation time (Tc) compared to the control. The results suggested that the sublethal effects of bifenazate on population growth of T. urticae were significant, and the results of this study could be used as a guide for the rational use of bifenazate in the field for better managing pest mites.