The mite Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) is important in coffee plants (Coffea spp.) for being the vector of the coffee ringspot virus, disease responsible for leaf fall and bad quality of the coffee beverage. The red spider mite Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor) is also important for reducing the area of photosynthesis in leaves. Mites of the family Phytoseiidae are efficient predators associated to the pest-mites. The objective of this work was to study the control of the pest-mites with spirodiclofen and azocyclotin, and the impact on phytoseiids. Studies were carried out in laboratory conditions on the ovicidal, topical, residual, topical plus residual effects, and the physiological selectivity for the phytoseiids. The persistence of the products in the control of the pest-mites was studied in semi-field conditions. In field-test only was evaluated the efficiency in the control of B. phoenicis. Bioassays were made in detached leaves. The ovicidal effect was evaluated in eggs in the beginning and end of incubation; the residual, topical and topical plus residual effects on larvae, nymphs and adult were assessed through mortality evaluation eight days after spraying, while the persistence was evaluated until 30 days after spraying. The phytoseiids selectivity was evaluated in a glass surface residual test through the adult female's mortality and reproduction effect. Spirodiclofen and azocyclotin (SC) showed efficient ovicidal action, mainly for eggs of B. phoenicis in the beginning of incubation. For eggs of O. ilicis only the spirodiclofen presented ovicidal effect.In general, the associated topical plus residual effects improve the performance of the products in the control of the post-embryonic phases of both species. The spirodiclofen presented selectivity for the predator mites; the azocyclotin was already noxious. In the field, both acaricides showed highly efficiency in the reduction of all the post-embryonic phases of the pest-mite B. phoenicis, mainly in the leaves.
Mite; coffee ringspot virus; chemical control; selectivity; Coffea arabica
