Effect of pyroligneous extract of Acacia mearnsii on Tetranychus urticae (Koch, 1836) (Acari, Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954) (Acari, Phytoseiidae)

Abstract

This work aimed to determine the effect of decanted pyroligneous extract (DPE) of black Acacia mearnsii on the mites Tetranychus urticae (Koch, 1836) (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor, 1954) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Six different concentrations were tested, namely, DPE: water 1:600, 1:300, 1:150, 1:75, 1:38 and 1:19 and a control treatment with distilled water. Five females of T. urticae and N. californicus were transferred to arenas, totaling 50 females per treatment, for a period of eight days. DPE caused high mortality in N. californicus, while in T. urticae, high mortality was observed only at high (1:75, 1:38 and 1:19) and intermediate (1:150) concentrations. Notably, DPE was slightly harmful to T. urticae at lower concentrations and harmful to N. californicus at all concentrations, indicating that it would have little efficacy in the control of T. urticae.

Keywords

• Acacia mearnsii
• IPM
• Selectivity