The relative toxicity of the leaf, seed and oil neem cake extracts of Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) to the predatory mite Iphiseiodes zuluagai (Denmark & Muma) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) was evaluated. To verify the relative toxicity of these extracts on the predatory mite, discriminating concentrations of the extracts were determined for adult females of the Oligonychus ilicis (McGregor) (Acari: Tetranychidae), through the method of concentration-mortality. Coffee leaf disks with 3.5 cm of the diameter were put floating on water and impregnated with dry residue of the extracts. Concentrations of neem extracts which caused mortality (99%) of O. ilicis, after 72h of exposition, were 277.4; 520.9 e 10.9 mg/ml for leaf, seed and oil neem cake, respectively. The discriminating concentration of extract of oil neem cake for O. ilicis females was highly toxic to I. zuluagai; while extract of leaf and seed were selective to the predatory mite.
Insecta; toxicity; natural enemy; Oligonychus ilicis; biological control
