Lethal and sub-lethal effects of diflovidazin on citrus red mite, Panonychus citri

 Citrus red mite, Panonychus citri is an important plant pest species in the citrus growing regions of the world. Due to the use of chemical pesticides with a wide range of effects against this pest and other pests in citrus orchards, P. citri has been become a serious pest in citrus orchards, including citrus orchards in the north of the country. In this study, the acaricidal and sublethal effects of diflovidazin on different stages of citrus red mite were investigated. The results showed that diflovidazin was highly toxic to the eggs, larvae and deutonymph stages of citrus red mite. The sublethal effects of diflovidazin on the parameters of citrus red mite life table were investigated and the results showed a significant decrease in generation length average, adult longevity, fecundity and fertility period. The net reproduction rates (R0) were 11.2 and 1.62 offspring per female mite for control and treatment of diflovidazin, respectively. The intrinsic (r) and finite (λ) rates of increase for the control were 0.133 and 1.142 per day, respectively, and for the LC30 treatment was 0.033 and 1.034 per day, respectively. In general, the sub-lethal concentration of difluvidazine showed a diminishing effect on all population growth parameters in treated deutonymphs. Overall, the results indicate the lethal and sub-lethal effects of diflovidazin on citrus red mites, and this compound can be recommended as part of a resistance management program to control this mite.