Use of fluvalinate for the protection of kiwifruit from contamination by twospotted spider mite (Acari: Tetranychidae)

• Published in: Journal of economic entomology Vol. 81; no. 3
• Main Authors: Hern, M.D, Penman, D.R, Chapman, R.B
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.06.1988
• Subjects: ACARICIDAS; ACARICIDE; ACTINIDIA CHINENSIS; AGUA DEL SUELO; CUARENTENA; EAU DU SOL; NOUVELLE-ZELANDE; NUEVA ZELANDIA; PIRETRINAS; PYRETHRINE; QUARANTAINE; TETRANYCHIDAE
• ISSN: 0022-0493; 1938-291X
• DOI: 10.1093/jee/81.3.863

Protection or disinfestation of harvested kiwifruit, Actinidia deliciosa Planch., from contamination by diapausing twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, was examined by treating fruit with sublethal doses of fluvalinate. Repellent or irritant activity was used to induce runoff. Tests on leaf disks of broad bean, Vicia faba L., showed that diapausing mites were more susceptible than nondiapausing forms to runoff when exposed to fluvalinate residues. Harvested fruit were dipped before infestation to simulate a protective treatment after harvest, or were dipped 24 h after infestation by nondiapausing mites to simulate treatment before harvest. Two rates of fluvalinate were tested (0.1 and 0.01 g [AI]/liter). Treatment before infestation reduced the proportion of subsequently infested fruit at the two rates by 19 and 26% after storage at 10 degrees C, and 29 and 49% at 20 degrees C. Dipping previously colonized fruit reduced the proportion of infested fruit by 48 and 47% for the two rates at 10 degrees C, and 68 and 75% at 20 degrees C. Disinfestation between the two rates of fluvalinate did not differ significantly, but the effectiveness of treatments was increased at higher storage temperatures after treatment. The possibility of using low rates of pyrethroids for disinfestation or protection of harvested crops from contamination by spider mites is discussed