Efeitos subletais de acaricidas utilizados no controle de Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae) sobre Neoseiulus baraki (Athyas-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

Aceria guerreronis Keifer is one of the most important pests of coconut worldwide, and acaricide spraying is the control method most used against this species. However, chemical control success depends on frequent and correct applications of acaricides. Thus, particular attention has been devoted to find a predator that can be effective in A. guerreronis biological control. Among the predators associated with A. guerreronis, N. baraki stands out as the most promising. This study aimed to evaluated the sublethal effects of acaricides used against A. guerreronis on N. baraki. The following parameters were evaluated: overall predator activity, mating behaviour, functional response, life table of females exposed to acaricides and their offspring, and forraging behaviour. Sublethal effects of acaricides were observed in all parameters evaluated. The overall activity and the mating behaviour of the predator were affected by azadirachtin. The type of functional response and prey handling time (Th) were not altered, but the attack rate (a') was reduced by fenpyroximate and abamectin, this last also reduced the consumption peak. Exposed females to abamectin (F0) did not produce offspring, fenpyroximate did not affect the life table parameters of exposed females (F0), but affected the offspring (F1). Alterations on instantaneous rate of increase (ri) on the 2nd generation (F2) were not observed. The foraging of predators exposed to acaricides was impaired, since they were not able to distinguish between infested and uninfested fruits. All acaricides tested affected at least one parameter of the predator, indicating that the frequent use of one of these acaricides might impar the effciency of the biological control of A. guerreronis by N. baraki.