Susceptibility of Euseius concordis (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae) to pesticides used in citrus production systems.

Euseius concordis (Chant) is an important predatory mite found in citrus orchards. The toxicity of 19 pesticides used in citrus orchards on biological and population parameters of this mite was assessed. Our results indicated that formetanate hydrochloride, dimethoate and phosmet were highly harmful (100% mortality) to E. concordis. Carbosulfan, diflubenzuron, fenpropathrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin + thiamethoxam, mineral and vegetable oils, spinosad and thiamethoxam reduced the female's survival and/or fecundity, and were moderately harmful to E. concordis. Besides the acute toxicity, carbosulfan and formetanate hydrochloride were highly persistent [>30 days after spraying (DAS)]; dimethoate was moderately persistent (16-30 DAS); spinosad, gamma-cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin and lambda-cyhalothrin + thiamethoxam were slightly persistent (5-15 DAS); and the other pesticides were considered to be short-lived (<5 DAS). All compounds except lambda-cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam increased the pre-oviposition period in the female offspring. Carbosulfan, deltamethrin, diflubenzuron, etofenprox, fenpropathrin, gamma-cyhalothrin, mineral and vegetable oils, pyriproxyfen and tebufenozide reduced offspring fecundity, whereas thiamethoxam increased the fecundity. Mineral and vegetable oils reduced female longevity of the predator mite. Regarding population effects, imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin + thiamethoxam and thiamethoxam led to an increase in net reproductive rate (R o ), intrinsic rate of increase (r), and finite rate of increase (λ) of E. concordis. Diflubenzuron, etofenprox, and mineral and vegetable oils reduced R o , r and λ. All pesticides except beta-cypermethrin, fenpropathrin and imidacloprid reduced the mean generation time (T) of the predator. Therefore, semi-field and field studies are needed to assess the compatibility of these compounds with E. concordis before adoption in IPM programs.