However, this insecticide is no longer used to suppress whiteflies (Kavousi et al.
2000). Moreover, tondexir
® and fenpyroximate were moderately and highly toxic
for P. persimilis according to field bioassay tests (Nadimi et al. 2006; Hamedi et al.
2010; Kabiri Raeis Abad and Zaree 2017), whereas, the Hexythiazox was found safe
(Nadimi et al. 2006; Ersin and Madanlar 2006). Sanatgar et al. (2011) assessed the
effect of hexythiazox spraying on the development, mortality and reproduction of
P. persimilis. The obtained results showed that various frequent sprayings of
hexythiazox (at 1, 7 and 15th generations) had no significant effect on the total
pre-imaginal developmental period of P. persimilis among multiple generations.
However, comparison of different stages revealed that frequent use of hexythiazox
caused a shorter development time for larvae and protonymphs. Their results showed
that frequent application of hexythiazox increased the pre-oviposition period of
P. persimilis, but the adult longevity decreased after 7 and 15 generations (the
second and third sprayings), means that the feeding period of P. persimilis declined.
Ultimately, they concluded that frequent sprayings with hexythiazox has no negative
impact on the biological characteristics of P. persimilis (Sanatgar et al. 2011).
In a comparative study, the effect of mineral spray oil (MSO) and imidacloprid
sprayings on some phytoseiid life stages were compared and less toxic effect of
MSO spraying on eggs and preimaginal stages of Phytoseiids was proved (Kord
Firozjaee and Damavandian 2018). A laboratory bioassay experiment also showed
the adverse impact of bifenazate on life table parameters of P. persimilis despite the
non-significant lethal effect on adults (Sanatgar et al. 2012). Despite many laboratory bioassays, a more detailed understanding of toxicity under field conditions is
required before any recommendations for their suitability or unsuitability of those
acaricides in IPM programs (Nadimi et al. 2008b). Prebloom application of insecticidal oils has little or no effect on overwintered phytoseiid mites because of their
habit of seeking protected sites, still it can significantly reduce overwintering
European red mite (Panonychus ulmi (Koch, 1836)) eggs, allowing predator
populations to grow concerning the pest’s numbers. A single application of highly
refined petroleum oil sprayed after petal fall (“summer oil”), has little impact on
predators at rates of 1% or less. The combined use of this species plus Volk
® oil
showed their compatibility in reducing T. urticae population (Hosseininia and
Arbabi 2008).
Most of Persian surveys on P. persimilis restricted to highly sophisticated studies
carried on under laboratory conditions, which it is so much challenging to extrapolate their outcomes to real situations. However, few studies have carried on
microcosm or more complex setups (Farid and Daneshvar 1995; Shirdel et al.
2000). As a rare case, the effect of three releasing densities of P. persimilis on
two- spotted spider mite populations has been evaluated on rose (Tavosi et al. 2017).
They concluded that 1:10 predator: prey ratio at the initial stages of spider mite
infestation gave the best results and could be used to control T. urticae population. In
this case, three predator-prey ratio of P. persimilis and T. bagdasarjani were tested
on cucumber seedlings and reported that 1:4 rate (predator: prey) reduced twospotted spider mite populations significantly (Moghadasi and Allahyari 2016).
Shirdel et al. (2000) and Farid & Daneshvar (1995) reported that four and five
4 Applied Ecology of Some Predacious Mites in Iran
147
2000). Moreover, tondexir
® and fenpyroximate were moderately and highly toxic
for P. persimilis according to field bioassay tests (Nadimi et al. 2006; Hamedi et al.
2010; Kabiri Raeis Abad and Zaree 2017), whereas, the Hexythiazox was found safe
(Nadimi et al. 2006; Ersin and Madanlar 2006). Sanatgar et al. (2011) assessed the
effect of hexythiazox spraying on the development, mortality and reproduction of
P. persimilis. The obtained results showed that various frequent sprayings of
hexythiazox (at 1, 7 and 15th generations) had no significant effect on the total
pre-imaginal developmental period of P. persimilis among multiple generations.
However, comparison of different stages revealed that frequent use of hexythiazox
caused a shorter development time for larvae and protonymphs. Their results showed
that frequent application of hexythiazox increased the pre-oviposition period of
P. persimilis, but the adult longevity decreased after 7 and 15 generations (the
second and third sprayings), means that the feeding period of P. persimilis declined.
Ultimately, they concluded that frequent sprayings with hexythiazox has no negative
impact on the biological characteristics of P. persimilis (Sanatgar et al. 2011).
In a comparative study, the effect of mineral spray oil (MSO) and imidacloprid
sprayings on some phytoseiid life stages were compared and less toxic effect of
MSO spraying on eggs and preimaginal stages of Phytoseiids was proved (Kord
Firozjaee and Damavandian 2018). A laboratory bioassay experiment also showed
the adverse impact of bifenazate on life table parameters of P. persimilis despite the
non-significant lethal effect on adults (Sanatgar et al. 2012). Despite many laboratory bioassays, a more detailed understanding of toxicity under field conditions is
required before any recommendations for their suitability or unsuitability of those
acaricides in IPM programs (Nadimi et al. 2008b). Prebloom application of insecticidal oils has little or no effect on overwintered phytoseiid mites because of their
habit of seeking protected sites, still it can significantly reduce overwintering
European red mite (Panonychus ulmi (Koch, 1836)) eggs, allowing predator
populations to grow concerning the pest’s numbers. A single application of highly
refined petroleum oil sprayed after petal fall (“summer oil”), has little impact on
predators at rates of 1% or less. The combined use of this species plus Volk
® oil
showed their compatibility in reducing T. urticae population (Hosseininia and
Arbabi 2008).
Most of Persian surveys on P. persimilis restricted to highly sophisticated studies
carried on under laboratory conditions, which it is so much challenging to extrapolate their outcomes to real situations. However, few studies have carried on
microcosm or more complex setups (Farid and Daneshvar 1995; Shirdel et al.
2000). As a rare case, the effect of three releasing densities of P. persimilis on
two- spotted spider mite populations has been evaluated on rose (Tavosi et al. 2017).
They concluded that 1:10 predator: prey ratio at the initial stages of spider mite
infestation gave the best results and could be used to control T. urticae population. In
this case, three predator-prey ratio of P. persimilis and T. bagdasarjani were tested
on cucumber seedlings and reported that 1:4 rate (predator: prey) reduced twospotted spider mite populations significantly (Moghadasi and Allahyari 2016).
Shirdel et al. (2000) and Farid & Daneshvar (1995) reported that four and five
4 Applied Ecology of Some Predacious Mites in Iran
147