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The two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (TSSM), is an important cosmopolitan pest of agricultural crops that is often managed in greenhouses by augmentation of predatory mites in combination with acaricides. Here we examined the transgenerational effects of low lethal concentrations of a widely-used acaricide, Oberon Speed® (a combination of spiromesifen and abamectin), on the life history traits and population growth of T. urticae and two of its predators, Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot and Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The concentrations employed corresponded to the LC 10 , LC 20 and LC 30 values estimated for TSSM protonymphs 48 h post-exposure in a topical bioassay, which yielded an LC 50 value of 207.2 ppm. Parental exposure of TSSM to all three low concentrations increased the total developmental time of progeny; both the LC 20 and LC 30 treatments reduced adult longevity and number of oviposition days, but only the LC 30 treatment increased the preoviposition period. Similarly, both the LC 20 and LC 30 treatments significantly reduced life table parameters (r, R 0 , λ, and GRR), and increased generation time (T) and population doubling time (DT). Although maternal exposure to the acaricide had various impacts on progeny life history, A. swirskii was less affected than P. persimilis, suggesting the former species would be more compatible for integration with Oberon Speed® for control of T. urticae in greenhouse vegetable production., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Date palm trees, their cultivation and harvesting have become challenging due to infestations caused by some specific mites including Oligonychus afrasiaticus (McGregor) (Tetranychidae). Current research has been carried out to investigate the efficiency of nine pesticides against eggs and date palm mite, Oligonychus afrasiaticus against nine pesticides. Side effects of the nine pesticides were also examined on predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Phytoseiidae). Mites and their eggs were treated with the recommended dosage of nine pesticides namely, Bifenazate 24%, Bifenthrin 10%, Matrine 0.6%, Imidacloprid 37% + Abamectin 3%, Sulphur 99.5%, Micronized Sulphur 80%, Mineral oil 95%, Pyrethrin 1.5% and Hexythiazox 10%, while they were present in their natural environment on the date palm trees in the experimental fields. Highest mortality of 91.16% was observed when O. afrasiaticus was treated with Bifenazate (24%) followed by 87.31%, 85.20%, 72.06%, 71.34%, 65.35%, 64.14%, 61.06% and 24.25% in case of Bifenthrin 10%, Matrine 0.6%, Imidacloprid 37% + Abamectin 3%, Sulphur 99.5%, Micronized Sulphur 80%, Mineral oil 95%, Pyrethrin 1.5%, and Hexythiazox 10%, respectively. A minimum hatching of 25.74% was observed when eggs of O. afrasiaticus were treated with Hexythiazox 10% and the highest success of hatching (99.07%) was seen when treatment was given with Imidacloprid 37% + Abamectin 3%. When same trials with same nine pesticides were performed on predatory mite; Amblyseius swirskii, the highest mortality in terms of percentage reduction (75.63%) was observed with Bifenthrin and the lowest (14.69%) with Matrine. Nine pesticides used in this study have distinct toxicity against targeted mite, their eggs and the predatory mite. A two steps control strategy is recommended for this treatment. First spray Hexythiazox at the egg laying stage and then at the moving stage of mites by using Matrine which is toxic to mites but negligibly toxic to predatory mites. Further studies are recommended to evaluate varied actions of the pesticide against eggs, phytophagous mites, and predatory mites.

Phytoseiulus longipes is a predatory mite of Tetranychus evansi, which is an invasive pest in Africa and elsewhere. The introduction of this predator in Africa has considerable potential, but little is known about the compatibility of P. longipes with commonly used pesticides. Here, we examined lethal and sublethal effects of two pyrethroids (cypermethrin and deltamethrin), two organophosphates (dimethoate and chlorpyrifos), one nicotinoid (imidacloprid), two acaricides (propargite and abamectin), two naturally derived pesticides (oxymatrine and azadirachtin), and one entomopathogenic fungal-based formulation (Hirsutella thompsonii) on P. longipes eggs and adults. The pesticides were sprayed at their maximum recommended concentrations. Topical exposures to azadirachtin, imidacloprid, propargite, abamectin, oxymatrine, and H. thompsonii significantly reduced the net reproductive rate (R 0 ), intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ)of P. longipes. Pesticide lethal and sublethal effects on the predator were summarized in a reduction coefficient (E x ) for the classification based on IOBC toxicity categories. Results revealed that Azadirachtin and H. thompsonii were slightly harmful effects to adults. Imidacloprid, propargite, abamectin, and oxymatrine were moderately harmful to both eggs and adults. Residual persistence bioassays revealed that 4-day-old residue of azadirachtin had no harmful effect on the predator. Abamectin, oxymatrine, and H. thompsonii became harmless to it 10 days post-spraying, and propargite and imidacloprid were considered harmless after 20 days. Cypermethrin, deltamethrin, dimethoate, and chlorpyrifos were highly harmful to both eggs and adults, persistence remaining high even after 31 days of application. These findings provide valuable insights into decision-making when considering P. longipes for use in IPM programs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a polyphagous and damaging pest, presenting several resistant populations worldwide. Among new and more environmentally friendly control tools, botanical pesticides represent a valuable alternative to synthetic ones within integrated pest management strategies. Accordingly, we investigated the lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide isolated from Carlina acaulis (Asteraceae) roots on T. urticae and its natural enemy, the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor)., Results: Carlina oxide (98.7% pure compound) was used for acaricidal tests on eggs, nymphs, and adult females of T. urticae (concentrations of 312.5, 625, 1250, 2500 and 5000 μL L -1 ), and eggs and females of N. californicus (1250 and 5000 μL L -1 on eggs and females, respectively). Behavioral two-choice tests were also conducted on phytoseiid females. Carlina oxide toxicity was higher on T. urticae females than nymphs (median lethal dose 1145 and 1825 μL L -1 , respectively), whereas egg mortality and mean hatching time were significantly affected by all tested concentrations. A decreasing daily oviposition rate for T. urticae was recorded with concentrations ranging from 625 to 5000 μL L -1 , whereas negative effects on the population growth rate were recorded only with the three higher concentrations (1250, 2500 and 5000 μL L -1 ). No toxic effect on N. californicus females was found, but a strong repellent activity lasting for 48 h from application was recorded., Conclusion: Carlina oxide reduced longevity and fecundity of T. urticae adults, but not of N. californicus. This selective property allows us to propose it as a novel active ingredient of ecofriendly acaricides for T. urticae management. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Many mites of the family Eriophyidae are important pests worldwide. In citrus crops, the eriophyid Phyllocoptruta oleivora stands out for the economic losses caused. The pest's injuries cause the darkening of leaves, twigs, and fruits, making them unfit for the fresh fruit market and affecting plant productivity. Another species that causes similar symptoms was described in Brazil recently, the brown citrus rust mite, Tegolophus brunneus. Although studies have not been performed with this species, growers and technicians have attributed the rise in rust damages in Brazil to T. brunneus, affirming that this mite is more aggressive and resistant to acaricides than P. oleivora. In this study, the distribution of T. brunneus in the main Brazilian citrus belt and the differential toxicity of the acaricides sulfur and abamectin were evaluated for both species. Infested fruits were collected from different orchards in many municipalities, covering the main citrus species and cultivars grown, aiming to show the main T. brunneus hosts. It was observed that only plants of Tahiti acid lime (Citrus latifolia) were infested by T. brunneus, whereas P. oleivora infested all citrus cultivars and species evaluated (Citrus spp.). In our study, T. brunneus and P. oleivora were never observed coinfesting the same fruit/leaf or plant. The acute toxicity test of sulfur and abamectin as acaricides showed that T. brunneus has greater tolerance to abamectin than P. oleivora. However, the acute toxicity of sulfur was similar for both species. These results showed T. brunneus specificity to infest Tahiti acid lime, causing important damage to this crop, and suggest that attention should be paid to managing this mite using abamectin., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Brazil is among the largest apple producers in the world (Malus domestica Bork, Rosaceae), with production concentrated mainly in the southern of the country. Panonychus ulmi (Koch) (Tetranychidae) have economic importance in apple and, recently, Aculus schlechtendali (Nalepa) (Eriophyidae), was reported in Brazil. This review aims to delineate the distribution of the acarofauna associated to apple, with emphasis on the main groups of economic importance and their potential natural enemies and highlight the problems related to phytophagous species and management possibilities. Searches were carried out in databases, and the principal keywords were Aculus schlechtendali, Malus domestica and Panonychus ulmi. After the exclusion criteria resulted 166 publications. The social and economic importance of the apple has been increasing on the world, however, due to environmental imbalance, phytophagous mites are increasing their populations and acquiring resistance against acaricides. Panonychus ulmi has been reported in America for decades, being of economic importance for Brazil and the record of A. schlechtendali alerts to the possibility of damage in orchards in the country. Therefore, it is important that the literature be evaluated, that the mite species are identified and that forms of conscious management are developed. Prioritizing the human and animal health and environmental balance.

Among haematophagous ectoparasites that infest chickens, poultry red mite (Dermanyssus gallinae, PRM) is one of the most serious threats to poultry farms. Mass PRM infestation causes various health problems in chickens, resulting in significant productivity reduction in the poultry industry. Despite the efficiency of acaricides for controlling PRMs, the emergence of acaricide-resistant PRMs represents a challenging setback. Infestation with haematophagous ectoparasites, such as PRMs, induces inflammatory and haemostatic reactions in the host. Therefore, we aimed to explore the gene expression in chicken peripheral blood cells to elucidate host responses against PRM infestation in detail. RNA sequencing of blood-fed PRMs was performed, and the levels of the chicken-derived transcripts obtained from the ingested blood cells were analysed. Genes encoding haemoglobin subunits were found to be significantly more expressed, suggesting that PRM infestation causes anaemia in chickens. Additionally, the mRNA and plasma concentrations of CC chemokine ligand 4 and β2 microglobulin among the immune-related molecules were found to be significantly higher in PRM-infested chickens compared with non-infested animals. These results suggest that PRM infestation induce inflammation in chicken. Further studies are warranted to better understand the influence of PRM infestation on the host physiological states, including immunity., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest TS, EO, and AT are employed by Vaxxinova Japan K.K, Tokyo, Japan. The other authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Existing treatments against poultry red mite (PRM; Dermanyssus gallinae) infestation have reduced efficacy or exhibit hazardous effects on chickens. Considering the economic importance of chickens, development of a safe and effective method for exterminating PRMs is necessary. Ivermectin and allicin are effective against some ectoparasites; however, their acaricidal efficacies against PRMs remain unknown., Objective: To evaluate individual and combined efficacies of ivermectin and allicin in exterminating PRMs., Methods: Different concentrations (0.10-1.0 mg/mL) of ivermectin (1 mL) were applied via dropping method in different insect culture dishes (ICDs), prior to transferring PRMs. For the spraying method, PRMs were transferred to ICDs, before spraying ivermectin (1 mg/mL) solution (1 mL). Further, the acaricidal effect of allicin on PRMs was evaluated by applying different concentrations (0.25-1.0 mg/mL) of allicin (1 mL). The combined acaricidal effects of ivermectin and allicin were analysed using four concentration combinations. PRM death rates were determined after 2 h, 24 h, 2 days, 5 days and 7 days of drug application., Results: Ivermectin application (1 mg/mL) exterminated 64% and 100% of PRMs on 1 and 5 days, respectively, and prevented their revival. Further, 0.5 mg/mL ivermectin and 1 mg/mL allicin individually exterminated 98% and 44% of PRMs, respectively, within 7 days of treatment. In combination, 0.5 mg/mL ivermectin and 0.5 mg/mL allicin exterminated 100% of PRMs within 5 d of treatment. The most effective combination was 0.25 mg/mL ivermectin + 1.00 mg/mL allicin., Conclusions: The efficacy of ivermectin-allicin combination in exterminating PRMs was demonstrated. This novel approach could be optimised for industrial applications., (© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Poultry mites continue to be a major threat to poultry meat and egg production all over the world, with some species being blood-feeding arthropods that spend most of their time off-host and others burrowing under the bird's skin. Regardless of feeding strategy, these mites create welfare issues and production losses in poultry production systems in terms of bird growth, egg quality, and egg quantity. Furthermore, some species are able to transmit pathogens, introducing secondary infections that affect the birds' development and survival. Because of national restrictions on acaricide use and the development of mite resistance to available control products, the eradication of poultry mites is far from being achieved. However, new drugs and a better understanding of mite genetic and transcriptomic factors should aid the development of new control and treatment strategies. This review focuses on the main poultry mite species, their significance, and their current and future control.

Pesticide resistance in spider mites drives the development of acaricides with novel mode of action, which could benefit from RNAi as a screening tool in search of new molecular targets. RNAi via oral delivery of dsRNA has been frequently reported in spider mites, but injection of dsRNA is rarely reported. We compare here the efficiency of oral delivery versus injection of dsRNA in female adult mites. When comparing silencing efficiency, oral delivery of dsRNAs silenced 40.6 ± 8.9% of CPR, 63.8 ± 6.9% of CHMP2A, and 37.7 ± 5.7% of CHMP3 genes. Similar silencing efficiencies were found for injection (48.6 ± 3.7% of CPR, 70.2 ± 4.1% of CHMP2A, 59.8 ± 2.2% of CHMP3), but with much lower quantities of dsRNAs. Oral delivery of dsRNA failed to silence the expression of the CHMP4B gene, but this could be accomplished by injection of dsRNA (23.1 ± 1.0%). When scoring the phenotypic effects of silencing, both oral delivery and injection of CHMP2A- and CHMP3-dsRNA influenced the locomotion speed of mites significantly. For CPR, silencing could only be accomplished by dsRNA injection, not by feeding. CPR silencing significantly impacted the toxicity of a typical acaricide, pyridaben, as the susceptibility of mites raised 2.75-fold. Last, injection of Eya-dsRNA in adults produced transgenerational phenotypic effects on 3.59% of offspring, as quantified by an observed deviation in eye development, while oral delivery of Eya-dsRNA did not. In conclusion, injection of dsRNA is superior to oral delivery in silencing the expression of the selected genes in this study and could be considered the method of choice to study gene function in reverse genetic approaches., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Amitraz is a broad-spectrum insecticide/acaricide for the control of aphids, psyllids, ticks and mites. Current evidence suggests that ticks and phytophagous mites have developed strong resistance to amitraz. Previous studies have shown that multiple mechanisms are associated with amitraz resistance in ticks, but very few reports have involved Panonychus citri. We therefore used whole genome sequencing and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) to identify the mechanism underlying P. citri's resistance to amitraz., Results: High-quality assembly of the whole P. citri genome was completed, resulting in a genome of approximately 83.97 Mb and a contig N50 of approximately 1.81 Mb. Gene structure predictions revealed 11 577 genes, of which 10 940 genes were annotated. Trait-associated regions in the genome were mapped with bulked segregant analysis and 38 candidate SNPs were obtained, of which T752C had the strongest correlation with the resistant trait, located at the 5' untranslated region (UTR) of the β-2R adrenergic-like octopamine receptor gene. The mutation resulted in the formation of a short hairpin loop structure in mRNA and gene expression was down-regulated by more than 50% in the amitraz-resistant strain. Validation of the T752C mutation in field populations of P. citri found that the correlation between the resistance ratio and the base mutation was 94.40%., Conclusion: Our results suggest that this 5' UTR mutation of the β-2R octopamine receptor gene, confers amitraz resistance in P. citri. This discovery provides a new explanation for the mechanism of pest resistance: base mutations in the 5' untranslated region of target gene may regulate the susceptibility of pests to pesticides., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Optimization of integrated pest management for Pacific spider mite, Tetranychus pacificus McGregor, in California almonds requires that miticide applications be delayed as long as possible to promote biological control, while still occurring before exponential mite increases cause defoliation. We used data from twelve untreated almond orchards between 2006 and 2019 to determine that decisions to treat T. pacificus should be made on the first monitoring date with 1.4 mites per leaf (38.1% of leaves infested) to ensure that miticide applications are made prior to reaching the treatment threshold of 5.4 per leaf an average of 4.7 d later. Modifications to this threshold based on biological control were made using capture rates of sixspotted thrips, Scolothrips sexmaculatus Pergande, on yellow adhesive traps from 14 almond orchards between 2016 and 2019. Data showed that T. pacificus density remained unchanged when there were 0.42 S. sexmaculatus per trap per week for every one T. pacificus per leaf. For orchards where T. pacificus density has exceeded action and treatment thresholds, we developed a less accurate, but more practical, model that does not require counting mites on leaves. On average, T. pacificus density remained unchanged for seven and 14 d if there were an average of five and three S. sexmaculatus per trap per week, respectively. Growers who adopt the action and treatment thresholds presented herein have the potential to avoid unnecessary miticide use, maximize reliance on biological control, and promote the long-term sustainability of California's almond industry., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Erythritol, an artificial sweetener, has shown promise as an organic, human-safe insecticide. Recently, erythritol applications were shown to be successful at controlling pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola (Förster)) (Hempitera: Psyllidae), the most important pest of pear in the Pacific Northwest, USA. Twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae) and pear rust mite (Epitrimerus pyri (Nalepa)) (Trombidiformes: Eriophyidae) can also be highly damaging pear pests. Their common natural enemy, Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae), can provide biological control if selective pesticides are used for managing other pests. Through a series of bioassays, we sought to determine whether erythritol could also be used for controlling either species of pest mite. We also examined whether erythritol had acute or sublethal impacts on G. occidentalis, through a variety of exposure methods. Effects examined included mortality, fecundity, prey consumption, and locomotion. We determined that a high concentration of erythritol (30%) had efficacy against both pest mite species and caused arresting behavior in twospotted spider mite. Erythritol caused little acute mortality in G. occidentalis, but did reduce fecundity and prey consumption through some exposure methods. Through motion-capture software, we determined that this is primarily due to reduced movement, likely caused by difficulty walking on residues and excessive grooming behavior. Because the predatory mite non-target effects were less acute than those for the two pest mites, we concluded that erythritol could likely be integrated into pear IPM with little or no disruption of mite biological control., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2021.)

The poultry red mite Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer) is the most important haematophagous ectoparasite in the poultry industry. The use of synthetic acaricides for this control is presenting risks related to human food. In this sense, plant secondary metabolites are promising for controlling this pest. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the acaricidal activity of Duguetia lanceolata A.St.-Hil. (stem bark), Xylopia emarginata Mart. (stem bark), and Xylopia sericea A.St.-Hil. (stem bark and fruits) against D. gallinae. Additionally, the secondary metabolite profile of the X. emarginata was analysed by UFLC-DAD-ESI(+)-MS/MS (micrOTOF-QII) and data analysis was performed using the Molecular Networking. In a topical application test, all plant species tested showed bioactivity, in that order of toxicity with the respective probability survival: X. emarginata (stem bark) (0.28) > X. sericea (stem barks) (0.35) > X. sericea (fruits) and D. lanceolata (stem bark) (0.47). The most promising results were found for X. emarginata (LC 50 = 331.769 μg/cm 2 ). It is noteworthy that the LC 50 of the insecticide cypermethrin was 1234.4 μg/cm 2 , which was 73% higher than that of X. emarginata. The metabolomic profile of X. emarginata revealed the presence of alkaloids, amides, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. This is the first report of X. emarginata acaricidal activity against D. gallinae and exploratory chemical analysis by untargeted metabolomics and the molecular network of this plant., (© 2021. Sociedade Entomológica do Brasil.)

Twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Trombidiformes: Tetranychidae), is an important, worldwide pest of watermelon, Citrullus lanatus L. (Thunb.) Matsum. & Nakai (Cucurbitales: Cucurbitaceae). Feeding results in chlorotic spots and leaf necrosis, which can substantially reduce yields. In watermelon, T. urticae is managed solely with acaricides. Issues with acaricide resistance and pesticide label restrictions on number of applications per season require research-based recommendations on products with effective, long-lasting residues. To improve recommendations for T. urticae management in watermelon and to measure possible effects on non-target beneficial mites, we conducted acaricide efficacy trials in two locations in South Carolina, United States. The adulticidal products abamectin, bifenazate, fenpyroximate, and tolfenpyrad and the ovicidal products spiromesifen and etoxazole were tested. We also conducted two bioassays to better determine duration of acaricide residues. In the field trials, all acaricides except tolfenpyrad reduced T. urticae abundance, but all acaricides also reduced abundance of the most common predatory mite, Neoseiulus fallacis (Garman) (Mesostigmata: Phytoseiidae). In the bioassays, abamectin and bifenazate residues caused high adult T. urticae mortality at up to 21 d after treatment, performing better than fenpyroximate and tolfenpyrad. Etoxazole and spiromesifen were longer lasting, with <1 offspring per treated female in the etoxazole treatment at 28 d after treatment. Based on efficacy, abamectin or bifenazate should be rotated with etoxazole for fast knockdown of active stages while reducing reproduction, respectively. However, development and registration of more selective acaricides in watermelon is needed to preserve biological control of T. urticae by predatory mites., (Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America 2021.)

When used for the evaluation of drug efficacy against Psoroptes ovis, the diagnostic performance of different sampling strategies for a mite count reduction test (MCRT) remains unclear. In the present study, a novel simulation framework was constructed that accounted for relevant biological features of P. ovis infestations in cattle and that was parameterized with field data from 16 farms (154 animals). Second, this framework was applied to explore the impact of study specific factors (number of animals, number of sampled lesions, and number of scrapings per lesion) and biological factors (mite infestation intensity and size of lesions) on the diagnostic performance of MCRT. Its outcome provided a basis to determine the diagnostic performance of MCRT when it was applied according to the World Association for the Advancement in Veterinary Parasitology (WAAVP) and the European Medicine Agency (EMA) guidelines, and to formulate recommendations to ensure a good diagnostic performance of the MCRT. For both guidelines, the MCRT allowed to correctly detect (power 80%) reduced and normal efficacy when the therapeutic efficacy was <70%, and ≥95%, respectively. The results highlighted a reliable diagnostic performance of the MCRT when performed as recommended by WAAVP and EMA for the detection of normal drug efficacy. When used for the detection of reduced efficacy, therapeutic efficacies between 70% and 90% could not be detected with sufficient reliability. The diagnostic performance can be improved by increasing the total number of skin scrapings (increasing the number of animals, number of sampled lesions and/or number of samples per lesion). In order to help researchers and veterinarians to optimize the design of the MCRT to their field settings, the findings were translated into a simple tool., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Predatory mites belonging to family Phytoseiidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) have long been considered as the most promising candidates for biological control of some economically important plant feeding mites and insects. Among them, Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) is one of the most abundant predators and can be considered as an important component for integrated pest management (IPM) programs in Mediterranean citrus orchards. Evaluation of non-target and toxic effects of pesticides is crucial to measure their threats to E. scutalis. In this study, the effects of some selected acaricides (abamectin, etoxazole, spirodiclofen, spirotetramat and pyridaben), that were widely used in citrus orchards, on eggs, larvae, and adult females of E. scutalis were determined under laboratory conditions. In order to observe some possible results at "worst-case scenario", the test units were sprayed at maximum recommended doses. According to the results, abamectin and pyridaben respectively caused 18.00% and 33.50% mortality on eggs, 57.33% and 65.33% on larvae, 23.33% and 44.00% on adult females. While etoxazole was only toxic to the larvae with mortality rates reaching 55.33%, spirodiclofen and spirotetramat were harmless to all developmental stages of the predatory mite. In addition, abamectin, etoxazole and pyridaben caused a significant reduction in the egg production of E. scutalis when compared to the control. Accordingly, spirodiclofen and spirotetramat may be compatible with E. scutalis in IPM programs where it is implemented as a predator. However, further semi-field and/or field experiments are essential in order to draw a final conclusion on compatibility of the other three acaricides., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, is a worldwide threat to egg production and animal and human welfare. This mite is also a potential vector for several significant diseases. EU regulation that forbids the use of conventional cages for egg-laying hens may favour the growth of D. gallinae, a species known to thrive in more complex housing systems. Current control measures emphasize the use of chemical acaricides, which may have limited efficacy on D. gallinae considering its temporary blood-feeding behaviour. In integrated pest management (IPM), two or more compatible measures targeting physical, environmental, and/or biological aspects could be judiciously combined to enhance the effectiveness against D. gallinae infestation. To inform current and future IPM for D. gallinae, a compatibility matrix is proposed to guide the selection of control measures for field application.

Four silica-based acaricides were examined in laboratory tests for their effectiveness against poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae. All acaricides resulted in 100% mite mortality. Two groups of active ingredients could be differentiated. The products Silicosec ® and Ewazid ® , based on naturally occurring diatomaceous earth (DE), killed 100% of adult D. gallinae within 48 h exposure time. The time to kill 50% of the mites (LT 50 ) was calculated to be 31.7 and 34.9 h, respectively. The other two products, containing aggregates and agglomerates of pyrogenic synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide as active ingredients, killed the mites in a significantly shorter time: LT 50 was 6.3 h for the liquid product Fossil Shield ® Instant White and 11.8 h for the powdery product Fossil Shield 90.0 White. This is more remarkable as the quantities of active ingredients used for the DE treatments were several folds higher. The effectiveness of all tested products was also shown in practical tests. A professional company treated five chicken houses on one farm in the Berlin-Brandenburg region with the test products, three houses with Fossil Shield Instant White and one each with Ewazid and Silicosec. Over a period of 46 weeks after stocking, the mite development in the houses was assessed. Only in one of the houses, treated with Fossil Shield Instant White, the mite population remained permanently low. In two houses treated with Fossil Shield Instant White, small mite colonies appeared in week 36, which were controlled by a follow-up spot treatment in week 41. In the houses treated with DE, the first mite colonies appeared 12 weeks after stocking. The number increased continuously over the experimental period and in week 31 after stocking there were clearly visible colonies (2-3 cm diameter) and the first mites could also be detected on the chicken eggs. At this time both houses were treated again with a follow-up spot-treatment, which only led to a slight improvement in one house and to a stabilization of the infestation in the other house. In week 41, large mite colonies were detected in both houses. A spot treatment at this point was ineffective in reducing the infestation. The tests showed faster acaricidal action of the products with the synthetic active ingredients compared to the natural DE-based products. This matches the shorter killing times under laboratory conditions. The experiments in a commercial chicken farm showed that it is possible to control the mite population for a period of 46 weeks by using physically effective SiO 2 -based products. These products are therefore an effective alternative to the use of chemical acaricides.

Integrated control tactics are often necessary for pest management. This is especially true for organisms such as the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch. The management of this mite pest species relies on pesticide use, but its short life cycle associated with high selection pressure results in frequent problems of acaricide resistance and population outbreaks. Therefore, combining acaricides and natural enemies is an appealing strategy for managing this pest species. The predatory mite Neoseiulus idaeus Denmark & Muma (Phytoseiidae) is important in arid environments, where other natural enemies show low efficacy. Thus, we investigated the effects of representative acaricides used for managing spider mites around the world in several crops (i.e., abamectin, fenpyroximate, and azadirachtin), on the functional and numerical responses of the phytoseid predator N. idaeus to increasing egg densities of its prey. Acaricide exposure did not affect the type of N. idaeus functional response or attack rate (a). However, acaricide exposure decreased the amount of consumed prey and increased prey handling time (Th). All acaricides affected the numerical response of the predator, which reduced oviposition rates. Therefore, caution is required in attempts to integrate the control methods., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The Varroa mite is a primary driver behind periodical losses of honey bee colonies. These mites require honey bees for food and reproduction and, in turn, elicit physiological deficiencies and diseases that compromise colony health. Current acaricides for Varroa mite control, such as Apistan® (the pyrethroid tau-fluvalinate), CheckMite + ® (the organophosphate coumaphos), and Apivar® (the formamidine amitraz) target the nervous system, can have adverse health effects on honey bees, and have limited effectiveness due to reported resistance issues. New target sites are needed to circumvent these obstacles in Varroa mite management, and voltage-gated chloride channels (VGCCs) are promising candidates due to their important role in the maintenance of nerve and muscle excitability in arthropod pests. Toxicological analysis of Varroa mites sensitive to tau-fluvalinate and coumaphos and Varroa mites with reduced sensitivity to these acaricides showed a significant increase in metabolic detoxification enzyme activities for the latter. Acetylcholinesterase activity in the Varroa mites exhibiting reduced mortality to coumaphos was significantly less sensitive to coumaphos-oxon compared to coumaphos-sensitive Varroa mites, which suggests target-site insensitivity to the acaricide. Voltage-gated chloride channel blocker DIDS had significantly greater field efficacy compared to Apistan® and CheckMite + ® against Varroa mites from honey bee hives where tau-fluvalinate and coumaphos were observed to be ineffective, respectively. These data suggest that DIDS, and potentially other stilbene chemistries, might serve as candidates for continued field efficacy testing of alternative acaricides in apiaries where Apistan®- and CheckMite + ® efficacy has been. reduced or lost for Varroa mites., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Integrated pest management relies upon the application of selective pesticides that do not hinder biological control. Phytoseiid mites represent an interesting case-study: they are amongst the most frequently used biological control agents and often are less affected by pesticides than their prey by natural tolerance or by developing resistance. The selectivity of a pesticide is determined by physiological processes that include metabolism, transport, and the affinity to the target-site. Genomic and transcriptomic studies start to elucidate the genetic and molecular mechanisms of differential toxicity in some phytoseiid species, such as a mutation in the sodium channel conferring pyrethroid resistance. Ecological selectivity is achieved by smart applications of pesticides and management practices that influence the persistence of phytoseiid mites on plants. Although modern pesticides often show lower acute toxicity, there is a need for robust assays and procedures that quantify lethal and sublethal effects, through different routes and times of exposure., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dermanyssus gallinae (De Geer 1778), commonly named the poultry red mite (PRM), is considered to be the most harmful ectoparasite in poultry farms in Europe. This species feeds on the blood of laying hens, but spends most of its time hidden in cracks and crevices around hen nests. To control PRM populations in poultry houses, chemical pesticides are currently used; however, concern is growing regarding the harmful residues found in eggs and hens, along with the increased resistance of mites against several compounds. Alternatives to synthetic compounds are now being explored, including vaccines, biological control, physical control and semiochemical control based on the chemical ecology of PRM. This review focused on the different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) identified from D. gallinae and other mite species that have been discovered to control them. Pheromones (aggregation pheromone, sex pheromone and alarm pheromone) and kairomones promoting attraction behaviour in D. gallinae and other mite species are presented, while VOCs from essential oils and plant extracts with repellent properties are also explored. Finally, devices using VOCs on PRM in the field are described, with devices that have been tested on other Acari species being mentioned as potential directions for the future control of PRM.

The citrus red mite, Panonychus citri (McGregor), is an important spider mite pest in citrus producing areas. Owing to long-term acaricide exposure, resistance has evolved rapidly in recent years. To evaluate the extent of resistance, seven field mite populations sampled from various geographical locations in China during 2015-2018 were tested using the leaf-dip bioassay method to determine their susceptibilities to four acaricides. In comparison with the susceptible strain maintained in the laboratory, low or moderate levels of fenpropathrin resistance, while no resistance to abamectin or cyflumetofen, were found among populations sampled from Liangping, Wanzhou, Daying, and Anyue in Southwestern China during the test period. High levels (>1,000-fold, with LC50 values that were greater than the recommended concentration) of resistance to fenpropathrin had evolved in field populations from Southern China, including Guilin, Nanning, and Yuxi, when compared with that of the susceptible strain. Populations from Guilin and Nanning also evolved high resistance levels to abamectin (1,088-fold and 1,401-fold) and cyflumetofen (2,112-fold and 9,093-fold). All the populations sampled in 2018 showed a moderate or high resistance to bifenazate. Generally, field populations of citrus red mites from Southwestern China were more sensitive to the tested acaricides than those of Southern China. The data provide a foundation for developing acaricide resistance management strategies in these regions., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

In this work, the essential oils (EOs) from Litchi chinensis, Clausena anisata, Heracleum sphondylium, Pimpinella anisum, Lippia alba, Crithmum maritimum and Syzygium aromaticum were tested for their contact toxicity against the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, a deleterious ectoparasite of aviary systems. In addition, in order to give insights on their mode of action and effectiveness, the vapor phase and residual toxicity tests were also performed. Results showed that amongst all the tested EOs, that of S. aromaticum demonstrated the highest contact toxicity, with a LC 50 value of 8.9 μg/mL, followed by C. maritimum and L. chinensis EOs, with LC 50 values of 23.7 and 24.7 μg/mL, respectively. L. chinensis and C. anisata EOs showed higher vapor toxicity than the other EOs. L. chinensis and S. aromaticum EOs showed promising toxic effects up to 4 days post-application. Taken together, these results highlighted L. chinensis and S. aromaticum as two promising sources of biopesticides, able to cause severe contact, vapor and residual toxicity in the poultry red mites. Given the wide plant cultivation and uses in foodstuffs, cosmetics, flavour and fragrances, these EOs may be considered cheap and ready-to-use products as valid, eco-friendly alternatives to pesticides currently used in the aviary systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

1. The aim was to evaluate the acaricidal effects of pure active components of essential oils against poultry red mite ( Dermanyssus gallinae ) as an alternative to chemical acaricides (organophosphates and pyrethroids).2. The toxicities of five pure active components of essential oils (eugenol from clove bud, eucalyptol from rosemary, limonene from citrus fruits, linalool from lavender and cinnamaldehyde from cinnamon) were tested on D. gallinae females in an impregnated paper assay.3. The active substances were dissolved in water and Tween 20 and applied at concentrations ranging from 0.002 to 0.06 µl/cm 2 . Toxicity was expressed as a lethal dose (LD 50 or LD 90 ).4. The highest mortality was observed with eugenol. The LD 90 was estimated to be 5.1 µg/cm 2 for this substance, followed by cinnamaldehyde, the LD 90 of which was estimated to be 11.0 µg/cm 2 . Limonene and eucalyptol were generally less effective in controlling D. gallinae .

Background: Two-spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch is a serious agricultural pest and has developed high levels of resistance to many acaricides. Hence, screening new acaricides is important in the control of TSSM. Fluralaner, a novel isoxazoline, has high activity against agricultural and ectoparasitic pests; however, little information is available about its effects on agricultural mites. Lethal and sublethal effects of fluralaner towards TSSM eggs and female adults were therefore evaluated in this study., Results: Fluralaner exhibited higher activity towards TSSM female adults (LC 50 , 0.49 mg L -1 ) compared with commercial acaricides including fenpyroximate, pyridaben and hexythiazox, and also excellent activity towards eggs (LC 50 , 0.36 mg L -1 ). The results of a sublethal effect study showed a significant reduction in the duration and fecundity of female adults with increases in the tested concentrations. The net reproductive rate (R 0 ) decreased to 67.34 ± 3.96 and 50.29 ± 3.40 offspring per individual in LC 10 and LC 30 treatments compared with control (108.31 ± 7.61 offspring per individual). The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) in the controls (0.30 and 1.36 d -1 ) were significantly higher than in the LC 30 treatment (0.25 and 1.29 d -1 ); whereas, they were almost identical to values for the LC 10 treatment. No change in mean generation time (T) was observed at sublethal concentrations treatments., Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that fluralaner has high acaricidal activity and could be considered a potential acaricide for TSSM management. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Poultry red mites (PRMs), Dermanyssus gallinae , are one of the most harmful ectoparasites of laying hens. Because of their public health impact, safe, effective methods to eradicate PRMs are greatly needed. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) was shown to eradicate phytophagous mites; however, there is no evidence that PRMs can be eradicated by CO₂. Thus, the efficacy of CO₂, applied by direct-spraying and dry ice-generated exposure, for eradicating PRMs was investigated. Both treatments eradicated > 85% of PRMs within 24 h and 100% of PRMs by 120 h of post-treatment. Therefore, these novel approaches may be useful for eradicating PRMs in clinical settings., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© 2020 The Korean Society of Veterinary Science.)

The redlegged earth mite (Halotydeus destructor) is an important agricultural pest in Australia, with a wide range of plant hosts. Halotydeus destructor has developed resistance to pyrethroid and organophosphorus insecticides as a consequence of the widespread use of these chemicals by farmers. Neonicotinoids are one of the few remaining insecticide classes registered against H. destructor in which resistance has not been detected, although there have been occasional reports of control difficulties experienced in the field. There is currently no reliable way to accurately test the response of H. destructor (or indeed any mite species) to neonicotinoid insecticides. Here, we developed a new bioassay to assess the response of mites against the neonicotinoid imidacloprid. The method provided consistent results and showed no variation when used by different operators. We generated base-line sensitivity data for imidacloprid across a number of field-collected populations of H. destructor. This is important for future monitoring of mite responses given the considerable selection pressure now being exerted across large areas of the Australian farming landscape through the widespread use of neonicotinoid seed treatments.

Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval), i.e., carmine spider mite, is a worldwide pest that can cause serious damage to plants. Problems of resistance have arisen since abamectin usage in the control of T. cinnabarinus. Unfortunately, there are only limited data on the extent of this problem. To understand the development of abamectin resistance in the carmine spider mite, we prokaryotically expressed an intradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenase (ID-RCD) gene sequence, TcID-RCD1, which had a significant upregulated expression of over 7.7 times in an abamectin-resistant strain (AbR) when compared with that of a susceptible strain (SS). The crude enzyme activity also indicated that the AbR had a higher activity than that exhibited in SS. When susceptible individuals were treated with abamectin, TcID-RCD1 was also overexpressed. Furthermore, using the RNA interference (RNAi) technique, TcID-RCD1 was successfully knocked down, with the expression level decreasing significantly to approximately 39% in the SS strain compared with the control. And the mortality of mites feeding on dsTcID-RCD1 increased significantly when treated with abamectin. These results strongly suggest that TcID-RCD1 is involved in abamectin resistance in T. cinnabarinus., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The acaricidal activity of 30 essential oils against the poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, female adults and behavioral responses of the mites to these essential oils were investigated. Cinnamon bark oil and clove bud oil showed 100% acaricidal activity after 24 h in the 1.3 μg/m 2 treatment. In addition, four components in cinnamon bark oil and three components in clove bud oil were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cinnamon bark oil showed the highest LD 50 value among all of the components, and eugenol showed 0.97-fold higher relative toxicity (RT) than the other components of clove bud oil. The fumigant effects of both essential oils and their seven components were observed using a vapor phase toxicity bioassay. All the substances showed repellent activity except for cinnamyl acetate, which did not show any repellent response even in the > 10 μg treatment. In the experiment using the T-tube olfactometer with the 10 μg treatment of each substance, D. gallinae female adults responded to all the substances except cinnamyl acetate. However, eugenol and eugenol acetate showed an attractant effect after 240 and 120 min of treatment, respectively. These results suggest that the two studied essential oils and their components may be used as control agents against D. gallinae.

In addition to determining the lethal effects, identifying sublethal effects of a pesticide is crucial to understanding the total impact a pesticide may have on a pest population. We determined the sublethal effects the two pesticides, abamectin and pyridaben, have on the cyclamen mite, Phytonemus pallidus (Banks) (Acari: Tarsonemidae)-a major pest of strawberry. Demographic traits of the P. pallidus progeny (F1 generation) produced by parents (F0 generation) treated with a low lethal concentration (LC 15 ) of abamectin and pyridaben were assessed using the age-stage, two-sex life table theory. The total longevity of the F1 generation (males = 10.78 days; female = 14.35 days) was the shortest in the progeny of the abamectin treated parents, differing significantly from the progeny of mites treated with pyridaben (males = 11.50 days, females = 15.63 days), and the control population (males = 13.50 days, females = 17.81 days). The intrinsic rates of increase (r) and the finite rates of increase (λ) of the progeny of abamectin (r = 0.0854 day -1 , λ = 1.0891 day -1 ) and pyridaben (r = 0.0951 day -1 , λ = 1.0997 day -1 ) treated parents were significantly lower than in the control mites (r = 0.1455 day -1 , λ = 1.1567 day -1 ). The lowest fecundity (5.35 eggs/female), occurred in F1 female offspring of parents treated with LC 15 concentrations of abamectin, which was significantly lower than in the pyridaben (6.11 eggs/female) and control treatments (11.45 eggs/female). Transgenerational sublethal effects of abamectin and pyridaben in P. pallidus can be effectively used to for optimizing IPM programs against this pest on strawberries.

Walking is important to dispersal on plants and colonization of new plants by predatory mites, and this activity is potentially affected by the presence of acaricides. This possibility was investigated in coconut fruits infested with the coconut mite, Aceria guerreronis Keifer (Acari: Eriophyidae), where colonization by the predator Neoseiulus baraki (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was monitored. The following acaricides were evaluated for influence on the process of colonization by the predatory mite: abamectin, azadirachtin, and fenpyroximate. Water-treated fruits were used for comparison. Experiments were conducted with and without freedom of choice on coconut fruits with the release and recapture of females of N. baraki marked with fluorescent ink. A confinement experiment was also carried out on coconut bunch rachis sprayed or not sprayed with the acaricides. The predatory mite N. baraki avoided contact with acaricide-contaminated areas. After the predators were released on the fruits or bunch rachis, larger numbers were recaptured under the bracts than on the surface of the fruits. The number of predators recaptured in all experiments was lower in the treatments with acaricides than in the control. Among the acaricides tested, azadirachtin least affected N. baraki colonization. Therefore, the presence of the tested acaricides indeed interferes with N. baraki dispersal within plants and the coconut fruit colonization.

Background: The mite Brevipalpus yothersi (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) is of great importance in citriculture because it is a vector of the disease citrus leprosis. The frequency of application of a combination of pesticides has increased because of an increase in the occurrence of economically important pests of citrus. However, the combined effect of acaricide and other insecticides targeting B. yothersi is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a combination of spirodiclofen and other insecticides on the control of B. yothersi., Results: Analysis using spirodiclofen alone resulted in 97.22% efficiency in the control of B. yothersi on day 7 after application. A combination of spirodiclofen with either phosmet or imidacloprid resulted in 55% and 59% efficiency, respectively. A reduction in the efficiency of mite control by up to 42% was observed when the mites were exposed to a combination of acaricide with other insecticides., Conclusions: Application of a combination of spirodiclofen with phosmet or imidacloprid compromises the efficiency of acaricide in the control of B. yothersi. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The poultry red mite (PRM), Dermanyssus gallinae, is a major pest of laying hens with extremely limited control means. To evaluate the potential of natural and commercial entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) for use against D. gallinae, we tested four wild populations of D. gallinae from Israeli farms. The genus Aspergillus was identified as the most abundant isolates from the mites. Additionally, eight new isolates of Metarhizium belonging to the specie M. brunneum were identified. At all sites from which mites were collected in both seasons, the abundance of fungi on D. gallinae was greater during the winter season than during the summer season. Through indirect inoculations of adult D. gallinae, we examined the virulence of the native Metarhizium species, the commercial strain Ma-43 and a previously described acaropathogenic strain (Ma-7). All of the Metarhizium strains caused 56-95% mortality of adult mites by seven days after inoculation at a concentration of 5 × 10 5 conidia per cm 2 . The efficacies of Ma-43, Ma-7 and the most promising native strain were tested under optimal abiotic conditions (28°C; 85-100% RH) and abiotic conditions similar to those typically found in a poultry house (30 °C; 60% RH). Under optimal conditions, the efficacy of all three stains ranged between 85 and 92%. In contrast, under poultry-house conditions, the efficacy of control ranged between 30 and 40%. The incidence of mycoses on mite cadavers was significantly decreased under poultry-house conditions. These results demonstrate the potential of native and commercial Metarhizium strains for use as biopesticides. Future research should address suitable delivery methods and formulations for the effective control of D. gallinae under poultry-house conditions., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Dermanyssus gallinae (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae) is the most harmful ectoparasite of laying hens, represents an occupational hazard for poultry workers, and a growing threat to medical science per se. There is increasing demand for alternative products, including plant-derived acaricides, with which to control the mite. The present study investigated the efficacy of neem oil against D. gallinae on a heavily infested commercial laying hen farm. A novel formulation of 20% neem oil, diluted from a 2400-p.p.m. azadirachtin-concentrated stock (RP03™), was administered by nebulization three times in 1 week. Using corrugated cardboard traps, mite density was monitored before, during and after treatment and results were statistically analysed. Mite populations in the treated block showed 94.65%, 99.64% and 99.80% reductions after the first, second and third product administrations, respectively. The rate of reduction of the mite population was significantly higher in the treated block (P < 0.001) compared with the control and buffer blocks. The results suggest the strong bioactivity of neem, and specifically of the patented neem-based formulation RP03™, against D. gallinae. The treatment was most effective in the 10 days following the first application and its effects persisted for over 2 months. Further studies will aim to overcome observed side effects of treatment represented by an oily layer on equipment and eggs., (© 2018 The Royal Entomological Society.)

The northern fowl mite (NFM), Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae), is the primary blood-feeding ectoparasite found on poultry in the U.S.A. Three experiments were conducted in vitro to test the acaricidal properties of cade, garlic, lavender, lemongrass, pine and thyme essential oils against NFM, and to evaluate whether these effects are altered by adjusting oil application rates and application modality (direct vs. vapour contact). Applied at the rate of 0.21 mg/cm 2 , the essential oils of cade, thyme, lemongrass and garlic resulted in higher NFM mortality at 24 h post-application than lavender and pine oils, and the untreated and ethanol-treated controls. Cade and thyme were the most consistent and fast-acting of the essential oils in terms of toxicity to NFM. Cade applied at 0.21 mg/cm 2 and 0.11 mg/cm 2 and thyme applied at 0.21 mg/cm 2 were effective in eliminating NFM within 2 h through direct contact. The modality of application did not affect the efficacy of cade and thyme essential oils. The results suggest that essential oils may be utilized as alternatives to chemical pesticides and could be used as fumigants for the control of NFM., (© 2018 The Royal Entomological Society.)

The essential oil from the leaves of Lippia gracilis was investigated for fumigant and residual activity against Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae). The results were compared to eugenol, Ortus ® and Azamax ® , as positive controls. Gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectrometry analysis enabled the identification of 28 compounds, accounting for 99.1 ± 0.6% of the essential oil. The major constituents were carvacrol (61%), p-cymene (11%) and thymol (11%). Mites were more susceptible to the oil in fumigant tests than in residual tests. Among the components, thymol and β-caryophyllene had the greatest fumigant and residual toxicity against T. urticae, respectively. The role of selected constituents (carvacrol, p-cymene, thymol, limonene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, terpinolene and β-caryophyllene) in the acaricidal properties of the L. gracilis essential oil is also discussed. Fumigant and residual effects of Lippia oil were more selective than eugenol with regard to a natural enemy of T. urticae, Neoseiulus californicus. Experiments under greenhouse conditions demonstrated greater toxicity of the Lippia oil in comparison to the positive control at 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment. The results suggest that Lippia oil is a good candidate for the formulation of a botanical acaricide for the integrated management of T. urticae.

The employment of nanoparticles obtained through various synthesis routes as novel pesticides recently attracted high research attention. An impressive number of studies have been conducted to test their toxic potential against a wide number of arthropod pests and vectors, with major emphasis on mosquitoes and ticks. However, precise information on the mechanisms of action of nanoparticles against insects and mites are limited, with the noteworthy exception of silica, alumina, silver, and graphene oxide nanoparticles on insects, while no information is available for mites. Here, I summarize current knowledge about the mechanisms of action of nanoparticles against insects. Both silver and graphene oxide nanoparticles have a significant impact on insect antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, leading to oxidative stress and cell death. Ag nanoparticles also reduced acetylcholinesterase activity, while polystyrene nanoparticles inhibited CYP450 isoenzymes. Au nanoparticles can act as trypsin inhibitors and disrupt development and reproduction. Metal nanoparticles can bind to S and P in proteins and nucleic acids, respectively, leading to a decrease in membrane permeability, therefore to organelle and enzyme denaturation, followed by cell death. Besides, Ag nanoparticles up- and downregulate key insect genes, reducing protein synthesis and gonadotrophin release, leading to developmental damages and reproductive failure. The toxicity of SiO 2 and Al 2 O 3 nanoparticles is due to their binding to the insect cuticle, followed by physico-sorption of waxes and lipids, leading to insect dehydration. In the final section, insect nanotoxicology research trends are critically discussed, outlining major challenges to predict the ecotoxicological consequences arising from the real-world use of nanoparticles as pesticides.

Background: The evaluation of lethal and sublethal effects is of great importance for a complete assessment of the total impact of chemical compounds upon pest populations and the development of management strategies. In this study, we evaluated the lethal and sublethal effects of different synthetic and botanical products on the broad mite Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks), a major pest of Capsicum annuum L. and other crops., Results: Abamectin had the highest lethal effect on P. latus, followed by spiromesifen, azadirachtin, neem oil and nitrogen fertiliser + citric acid. The sublethal effects of the products were indicated by the influence on mite population growth, affecting the numbers of females, males, larvae, pupae and eggs. Furthermore, a negative instantaneous rate of increase in P. latus and repellent effects were observed., Conclusion: The lethal and sublethal effects of abamectin, spiromesifen, azadirachtin and neem oil significantly affect P. latus population growth, as well as causing repellence to this mite on C. annuum, and they should be considered in the integrated pest management of this mite. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The poultry red mite, Dermanyssus gallinae, has been described for decades as a threat to the egg production industry, posing serious animal health and welfare concerns, adversely affecting productivity, and impacting public health. Research activities dedicated to controlling this parasite have increased significantly. Their veterinary and human medical impact, more particularly their role as a disease vector, is better understood. Nevertheless, red mite infestation remains a serious concern, particularly in Europe, where the prevalence of red mites is expected to increase, as a result of recent hen husbandry legislation changes, increased acaricide resistance, climate warming, and the lack of a sustainable approach to control infestations. The main objective of the current work was to review the factors contributing to this growing threat and to discuss their recent development in Europe. We conclude that effective and sustainable treatment approach to control poultry red mite infestation is urgently required, included integrated pest management.

Northern fowl mite management on conventionally caged birds relies on synthetic pesticide sprays to wet the vent. Cage-free chickens cannot be effectively treated this way, and pesticide use is restricted in organic production. Dustbathing behavior is encouraged in newer production systems for increased hen welfare. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is an approved organic insecticide that can be mixed with sand in dustboxes, suppressing mites but not excluding them, and potentially allowing development of mite immunity. We tested two hypotheses: 1) that DE-filled dustboxes placed before northern fowl mite introduction (prophylactic use) prevents mite populations from reaching economically damaging thresholds, and 2) that bird exposure to low mite numbers allows for protective hen immunity to develop and suppress mites after dustboxes are removed. We also tested if different beak trimming techniques (a commercial practice) affect mite growth. Mites were introduced to birds after dustboxes were made available. Average mite densities in flocks remained below damaging levels while dustboxes were available. Average mite populations rebounded after dustbox removal (even though DE persisted in the environment) regardless of the timing of removal. Mite densities on birds where a traditional hot-blade beak trimming technique was used (trial 1) were high. Mite densities in trial 2, where a newer precision infra-red trimming was used, were lower. The newer infra-red trimming method resulted in nearly intact beaks, which were better for mite control by bird grooming behaviors. The combination of early dustbox use and infra-red beak trimming should allow producers to avoid most mite damage in cage-free flocks., (© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of site-specific tactics for management of the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, a major pest of greenhouse and field-grown strawberries (Fragaria x ananassa Duchesne). Two site-specific (spot) treatments, the miticide bifenazate (Acramite(®)) and the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus McGregor, were compared with whole-plot treatments of bifenazate or N. californicus to determine whether T. urticae could be effectively managed in field-grown strawberry using only site-specific tactics. Additionally, the cost of site-specific tactics was compared with whole-plot treatments to determine the economic value of using site-specific management tactics for T. urticae in strawberries. In the greenhouse, all treatments equivalently reduced the number of T. urticae below control. In the field during the 2011-2012 season, more T. urticae eggs and motiles were in the whole-plot treatments of both N. californicus and bifenazate in the mid-season and late season, respectively, compared with the spot treatments. With the exception of site-specific N. californicus during the 2011-2012 field season, there were no differences in marketable yields between plots with site-specific treatments and whole-plot management. An economic analysis demonstrated a significant cost savings (75.3 %) with site-specific treatments of N. californicus compared with whole-plot application of N. californicus. Similarly, a 24.7 % reduction in cost was achieved in using site-specific bifenazate compared with whole-plot application of bifenazate. The findings indicate that site-specific treatments with N. californicus and bifenazate are competitive alternatives to whole-field application for T. urticae management in strawberries.

Reducing the losses caused by Aceria guerreronis Keifer has been an arduous task for farmers. However, there are no detailed studies on losses that simultaneously analyse correlated parameters, and very few studies that address the economic viability of chemical control, the main strategy for managing this pest. In this study the objectives were (1) to estimate the crop loss due to coconut mite and (2) to perform a financial analysis of acaricide application to control the pest. For this, the following parameters were evaluated: number and weight of fruits, liquid albumen volume, and market destination of plants with and without monthly abamectin spraying (three harvests). The costs involved in the chemical control of A. guerreronis were also quantified. Higher A. guerreronis incidence on plants resulted in a 60 % decrease in the mean number of fruits harvested per bunch and a 28 % decrease in liquid albumen volume. Mean fruit weight remained unaffected. The market destination of the harvested fruit was also affected by higher A. guerreronis incidence. Untreated plants, with higher A. guerreronis infestation intensity, produced a lower proportion of fruit intended for fresh market and higher proportions of non-marketable fruit and fruit intended for industrial processing. Despite the costs involved in controlling A. guerreronis, the difference between the profit from the treated site and the untreated site was 18,123.50 Brazilian Real; this value represents 69.1 % higher profit at the treated site.

Background: Euseius gallicus Kreiter & Tixier (Acari: Phytoseidae) is a predatory mite recently available for use against various pests in roses. We tested in greenhouse trials the impact on the numbers of eggs and motiles of E. gallicus of the most commonly used plant protection products in roses in northern Europe: the acaricides acequinocyl and etoxazole, the insecticides azadirachtin-A, acetamiprid, flonicamid, imidacloprid, indoxacarb, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam and the fungicides boscalid and kresoxim-methyl, cyprodinil + fludioxonil, dodemorph and fluopyram + tebuconazole., Results: The neonicotinoids thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, acetamiprid and imidacloprid had a negative impact on the number of eggs (47, 62, 81 and 76% reduction, respectively, compared with a water treatment) and number of motiles of E. gallicus (42.2, 42.9, 59.9 and 60.6% reduction) and were classified as slightly to moderately toxic. Also, the number of motiles was reduced after treatment with acequinocyl (47%) and etoxazole (43.9%) and after two treatments with flonicamid (41%) with a 1 week interval between treatments., Conclusion: Azadirachtin-A, acetamiprid, flonicamid, boscalid and kresoxim-methyl, cyprodinil + fludioxonil, dodemorph and fluopyram + tebuconazole were harmless for E. gallicus. Special attention should be paid to the impact of neonicotinoids and of acequinocyl and etoxazole, and to the application frequency with flonicamid on E. gallicus. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Background: Camptothecin (CPT), a monoterpene indole alkaloid from Camptotheca acuminate (Nyssaceae), is toxic to some insect pests but insoluble in water. Here we show that an aqueous CPT-Na(+) solution can kill the phytophagous mites Tetranychus urticae (TU), Acaphylla theae (AT) and Brevipalpus obovatus (BO) under laboratory and field conditions., Results: Modelling of 10 day time-concentration-mortality responses of female adults to 2 mL tower sprays of three CPT-Na(+) dilutions generated LC50 and LT50 values that decreased over post-spray days and sprayed amounts respectively. CPT-Na(+) sprays required to kill 50% BO, TU and AT were 35, 41 and 124 µg mL(-1) on day 1 post-spray, but rapidly decreased to 2.2, 2.5 and 3.6 µg mL(-1) on day 5, and to 0.69, 0.77 and 1.17 µg mL(-1) on day 7 respectively. In summer field trials, a spray rate of 7.5 g CPT-Na(+) ha(-1) provided better control efficacy against TU (81-85%) on cotton or AT (90-93%) and BO (83-88%) in tea gardens than aramite (commercial acaricide) at the labelled rate of 56.25 g ha(-1) . Half of the CPT-Na(+) rate controlled the mites as effectively as aramite., Conclusion: Water-soluble CPT-Na(+) is a promising plant-sourced acaricide to combat wide-spectrum pest mites., (© 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.)

The aloe mite, Aceria aloinis Keifer, causes physiological and morphological alterations in species of Aloe L. We conducted three trials to evaluate the potential of various miticides for curative and preventive control of damage caused by A. aloinis. In the first trial, the efficacy of nine miticides against aloe mite damage was assessed without the removal of infected tissue in Aloe reitziiae Reynolds. Although significant reductions in the number of mites and eggs were found due to the treatments, miticide application did not reduce the amount of plant area damaged or damage severity. Once the plants are infected, the irreversible damage by aloe mite progresses. The second trial analyzed the effects of seven miticides on aloe mite damage on Aloe 'Goliath' plants in which the damaged tissue was removed. Reduced damage severity and mite number was observed in all treated plants. To determine if aloe mite damage could be prevented, the effects of six miticides with and without surfactant were tested on uninfected plants of Aloe spinosissima A. Berger in a third trial. Except for chlorfenapyr and fenazaquin, all treatments reduced plant damaged area, damage severity, and the number of mites 60 wk following three miticide applications. The severity index in the second and third trials suggested that all treated plants would be marketable. Our study demonstrated that there were miticides that were effective by contact (carbaryl), translaminar (spiromesifen), and systemic (spirotetramat) action, which can be used to cure and to prevent aloe mite plant damage alone or in combination with cultural practices., (© 2014 Entomological Society of America.)

A population survey of phytoseiid mites and spider mites was conducted on peach leaves and wild plants in Japanese peach orchards having different pesticide practices. The phytoseiid mite species composition on peach leaves and wild plants, as estimated using quantitative sequencing, changed during the survey period. Moreover, it varied among study sites. The phytoseiid mite species compositions were similar between peach leaves and some wild plants, such as Veronica persica, Paederia foetida, Persicaria longiseta, and Oxalis corniculata with larger quantities of phytoseiid mites, especially after mid-summer. A PCR-based method to detect the ribosomal ITS sequences of Tetranychus kanzawai and Panonychus mori from phytoseiid mites was developed. Results showed that Euseius sojaensis (specialized pollen feeder/generalist predator) uses both spider mites as prey in the field.

Human Demodex mites (Demodex folliculorum and Demodex brevis) hold a high rank in the evolutionary and phylogenetic hierarchy of the skin microbiome, although in most people their presence is of no consequence. While human demodicosis is a skin disease sui generis, it can mimic many other inflammatory dermatoses, such as folliculitis, rosacea and perioral dermatitis, leading to unspecific and confusing descriptions in the literature. Here, we propose to classify human demodicosis into a primary form and a secondary form, which is associated mainly with immunosuppression. The clinical manifestations of primary demodicosis may include (i) spinulate demodicosis, currently known as pityriasis folliculorum, involving sebaceous hair follicles without visible inflammation; (ii) papulopustular/nodulocystic or conglobate demodicosis with pronounced inflammation affecting most commonly the perioral and periorbital areas of the face; (iii) ocular demodicosis, inducing chronic blepharitis, chalazia or, less commonly, keratoconjunctivitis; and (iv) auricular demodicosis causing external otitis or myringitis. Secondary demodicosis is usually associated with systemic or local immunosuppression. Treatment is only weakly evidence based, and the most effective concentrations of acaricides remain to be determined. Optimization of an in vitro or ex vivo culture model is necessary for future studies. Endosymbiosis between certain bacteria and Demodex mites in the pathogenesis of demodicosis deserves more attention. Further clinical observations and experiments are needed to prove our hypothesis., (© 2014 British Association of Dermatologists.)

Background: The pyrethroid insecticides are a very successful group of compounds that target invertebrate voltage-gated sodium channels and are widely used in the control of insects, ticks and mites. It is well established that some pyrethroids are good insecticides whereas others are more effective as acaricides. This species specificity is advantageous for controlling particular pest(s) in the presence of another non-target invertebrate, for example controlling the Varroa mite in honeybee colonies., Results: We applied in silico techniques to compare the voltage-gated sodium channels of insects versus ticks and mites and their interactions with a range of pyrethroids and DDT analogues. We identified a single amino acid difference within the pyrethroid binding pocket of ticks/mites that may have significant impact on the effectiveness of pyrethroids as acaricides. Other individual amino acid differences within the binding pocket in distinct tick and mite species may provide a basis for future acaricidal selectivity., Conclusions: Three-dimensional modelling of the pyrethroid/DDT receptor site has led to a new hypothesis to explain the preferential binding of acaricidal pyrethroids to the sodium channels of ticks/mites. This is important for understanding pyrethroid selectivity and the potential effects of mutations that can give rise to resistance to pyrethroids in commercially-important pest species., (© 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.)