Evaluation of spirotetramat by drench application on the conservation biological control program of an eggplant field

Abstract

A spirotetramat drench application in a nursery was compared with a systemic treatment of imidacloprid to evaluate the effects on spider mites, thrips, and Orius bugs on eggplants. The spirotetramat drench application exhibited high control effects for Tetranychus kanzawai and increased occurrences of Orius bugs in June because thrips were kept as a substitute prey of Orius bugs. The results show that spirotetramat drench application can decrease miticide spray and increase the occurrence of Orius bugs compared with imidacloprid systemic treatment.