Toxicity of avermectin and fenvalerate to the Eriophyid gall miteEriophyes dioscoridisand the predacious mitePhytoseius finitimus(Acari: Eriophyidae; Phytoseiidae)

The gall mite Eriophyes dioscoridis Soliman & Abou-Awad was much more sensitive to avermectin than to fenvalerate. On the other hand, the predacious mite Phytoseius finitimus Ribaga was more tolerable to avermectin than to fenvalerate. Residues of avermectin showed a longer activity on E. dioscoridis and a shorter one on P. finitimus, whereas fenvalerate showed the opposite. Avermectin was able to penetrate through the roots and killed mites in galls on stem at concentrations as low as 0.063 ppm. None of the gall individuals suffered mortality with fenvalerate or control treatments.