Diamide insecticides including cyclaniliprole are selective insecticides and show species- and order-specific differences in activity. This selectivity makes them highly compatible with biological control programs. The increased use of predatory mites in greenhouse production makes it vital to study the impact of insecticides on these biological control agents. The objective of this study was to determine the residual effect of cyclaniliprole alone and in combination with flonicamid on two predatory mites (Ambliseius cucumeris and A. swirskii) used in biological control of insect pests in greenhouses. Zinnia plants were grown in a greenhouse at 24ºC/14:10 (L:D) light. They were watered and fertilized using standard practices using a drip irrigation and injector system. Five treatments were evaluated, an untreated control; cyclaniliprole at 1.30 ml / L (16.4 Fl oz/100 Gal); flonicamid at 0.34 ml / L (4.28 Fl oz/100 Gal); cyclaniliprole + flonicamid at 1.07 ml / L (13.5 Fl. Oz/100 Gal) and cyantraniliprole at 0.63 ml / L (8 Fl Oz/100 Gal) as technical control. Treatments were assigned to plants in a RCB design with five replicates. Insecticides were applied as a soil drench at day 0 (D0). The residual effect of the treatments at 24 and 72 hr. on the survival of the two predatory mites, was evaluated at D0, D7, D14, D21, and D28. Drench application of cyclaniliprole alone and in combination with flonicamid, or cyantraniliprole did not affect the survival of Ambliseius cucumeris or Ambiseius swirskii; this indicates their fit in integrated pest management programs in greenhouses.
