Behavioral responses of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) to pesticides applied in rose nurseries

Abstract

Application of pesticides not only induces mortality of natural enemies released in agro-ecosystems but also affects their behavior. Behavioral responses of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor), to pesticides applied in rose nurseries were evaluated in the laboratory. N. californicus showed repellent response to the volatiles emitted from bean seedlings applied with dichlorvos by dipping in the experiment using a Y-tube olfactometer. It showed no significant attractive or repellent responses to other pesticides. No chemicals had effects to make the predatory mite disperse from the experimental arena of a rose leaf applied with insecticides by dipping.