Effect of broflanilide on the phytophagous mite Tetranychus urticae and the predatory mite Typhlodromips swirskii

Abstract BACKGROUND Two‐spotted spider mite (TSSM), Tetranychus urticae Koch, is one of the most serious pests of agricultural crops. Broflanilide exhibits high lethality against various pests and has been marketed worldwide under the Vedira and Tenebenal brands in 2020. Nevertheless, little information has been reported about its effects on agricultural mites. RESULTS Broflanilide displayed higher toxicity to TSSM eggs (24 h LC 50 , 1.015 mg L −1 ) and adult females (24 h LC 50 , 2.062 mg L −1 ) than commercial acaricides, including cyflumetofen, bifenazate, and profenofos. In contrast, the adverse effects of broflanilide on the predatory mite, Typhlodromips swirskii Athias‐Henriot, was lower than those of fenpyroximate and abamectin. In the sublethal effect study, while adult females were treated with broflanilide, the number of eggs and longevity were reduced in LC 10 and LC 30 treatments; when eggs were treated with broflanilide, the egg duration and deutonymph duration were prolonged in LC 30 treatment. A significant decrease in the total life span and duration and fecundity of adult females was observed in LC 10 and LC 30 treatments. Furthermore, the number of eggs per adult female was significantly reduced from 103.48 ± 3.69 in the control group to 69.42 ± 2.22 and 48.33 ± 1.75 in LC 10 and LC 30 treatments, respectively. In the greenhouse bioassay, broflanilide 5% suspension concentrate (MCI‐8007) showed excellent acaricidal activity to TSSM, with 99.22% corrected control, compared with the MCI‐8007 untreated group. CONCLUSION Our results indicated that broflanilide has a high acaricidal activity to TSSM and significant inhibition to fecundity of adult female, and could be considered as a potential alternative for TSSM management. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.