Preferência alimentar e efeitos de acaricidas sobre o crescimento populacional de Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) em cultivares de algodoeiro

Abstract

The cotton plant can be damaged during its development by several insects and mites species causing significant yield lost. Among these pest species, the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae) is considered an important pest in some cotton growing areas. The broad mite control is carried out commonly with synthetic acaricides and may cause negative impact on the environment, humans and animals. The objectives of this study were to analyze the feeding preference, toxicity and the effects of organic synthetic acaricides and plant origin acaricides on the population growth of P. latus (Banks) on cotton cultivars of white fiber (BRS 187 8H and BRS 201) and colored fiber (BRS Verde, BRS Safira and BRS Rubi). The acaricides azadirachtin, spirodiclofen, spiromesifen and abamectin were tested. Overall, it was observed that, the cultivars did not influence the feeding preference neither the development of P. latus. The acaricides azadirachtin A/B (12 mg / L) and spiromesifen (312 mg / L) had negative effect on the instantaneous rate of population growth for P. latus in both cultivars, and may reach the extinction of the colonies. The final population of P. latus decreased with increasing concentrations of acaricides. All the acaricides caused mortalities of P. latus females above 90% at the highest concentrations used.