A vegetable oil-based biopesticide with ovicidal activity against the two-spotted spider mite, Koch.

A recently developed biopesticide made of safflower and cottonseed oils has excellent ovicidal activity against the hard-to-control spider mite Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae). It has attracted attention as a sustainable treatment for controlling because it has low potential for promoting resistance and little effect on the predatory mite (McGregor) (Acari: Phytoseiidae), which is an important natural enemy of spider mites. Here, we investigated the mechanism of its ovicidal activity against . The oil droplets in the oil-in-water emulsion of the biopesticide strongly adhered to eggs, seeped through the chorion being cut during hatching, and inhibited the embryonic rotational movement necessary for cutting and hatching. No adverse effect was observed on eggs even in undiluted biopesticide. We conclude that this biopesticide and can be used simultaneously in the integrated management of in oily biopesticide-tolerant plant species.