COMPARATIVE EFFICIENCY OF PESTICIDES an‎d SOME PREDATORS TO CONTROL SPIDER MITES: I-TOXICOLOGICAL STUDIES OF SOME ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE CHEMICALS AGAINST THE TWO SPOTTED SPIDER MITE, Tetranychus urticae an‎d THEIR PREDATORS Amblyseius gossipi, Phytoseiulus macropili an‎d Stethorus gilvifrons

In the present study was carried out to evaluate the toxic effect of six compounds of different mode of actions, three are known as acaricides (abamectin , ethion and chlorfenapyr), one pyrethroid (cyhalothrin), one mineral oil(Nat- 1) and one plant extract (Allium sativum) against the eggs and adult females of the two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae and adult females of their predators Amblyseius gossipi, Phytoseiulus macropilis and Stethorus gilvifrons using leaf- disc dip technique.The results indicated that Abamectin has a special position in mite chemical control or in integrated mite management because of its high toxic effect and it`s high toxicity index among different mite control agents. A.sativum extract was the least toxic compound to adult female T.urticae. Abamectin and cyhalothrin have a special effect on eggs of T.urticae and considered the best compounds that have a special importance in integrated mite management.The mineral oil Nat-1 was more toxic to egg stage of T.urticae than A. sativum extract. Nat-1 and A.sativum extract were the most safe compounds to the adults of predatory mites A.gossipi and P.macropilis and the predatory insect S.gilvifrons. Chlorfenapyr has the highest selectivity index and highest selectivity ratio in spite of its low safety values, so it can be recommended in IPM programs. Cyhalothrin,ethion, Nat-1 and A.sativum were the next compounds after chlorfenapyr in their selectivity ratio values , but Nat-1 has a special position and considered a promising oil in mite control programs. Abamectin has the least values of selectivity index and selectivity ratio and it s low safety index make us to keep it in mined under certain conditions (in case of rare predators with high level of phytophagous mites).