Sublethal effects of tebufenpyrad on the eggs and immatures of two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae.

Sublethal effects of the mitochondrial electron transport inhibitor (METI) tebufenpyrad on Tetranychus urticae Koch females surviving treatment as eggs or immatures (> or =90% mortality) were investigated in life-table assay. The developmental time of females that had survived treatment as eggs (2 mg/l) or larvae (2.5 mg/l) was 1 day longer, while that of protonymphs (2.5 mg/l) or deutonymphs (4 mg/l) was 2 days longer, in addition to reduced longevity and fertility, compared to control. The treatment significantly reduced the intrinsic rate of increase in female survivors: corresponding values were 0.258, 0.278, 0.207 and 0.209, respectively (0.307 in untreated females). The offspring age distribution was significantly affected by the treatment. Sublethal effect of tebufenpyrad and its impact on T. urticae management are discussed.