The spray from airblast ground sprayers to different operational conditions were studied in mite control. Three experiments were carried out in `Valencia' commercial citrus orchard, during november /94 to november /95. Two of them using Jacto Arbus 2000/Export and Jacto Arbus 2000/850 airblast sprayers and the third one using Arbus 2000/Export. The efficacy of azocyclotin spray were evaluated on citrus rust mite Phyllocoptruta oleivora (Ashmead), leprosis mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) and red spider mite Panonychus citri (McGregor). The dosage of 25 g a.i. of azocyclotin per 100 litre water was efficient during fifty-two and twenty-eight days after spraying on the control of mites B. phoenicis and P. oleivora, respectively. Different operational conditions did not permit to identify significative differences between treatments on the initial mite control. The spraying of azocyclotin at 75% of commercial dosage with thirty five JA-2 nozzles type (Jacto) at 3.6 km/h and 2070 kPa of working pressure showed equivalent control levels up to sixteen days when compared with 100% of conventional dosage used for red spider mite control with the Arbus 2000/Export airblast sprayer.
Acari; azocyclotin; chemical control; spraying; citrus orchard
