Efficacy of new-generation acaricides in controlling mites in apple ...

BIOLOGICAL LETT. 2006, 43(2): 347–351 

Available online at http://www.biollett.amu.edu.pl 

EFFICACY OF NEW-GENERATION ACARICIDES 

Efficacy of new-generation acaricides in controlling mites 

in apple and plum orchards 

ALICJA MACIESIAK and REMIGIUSZ W. OLSZAK 

Research Institute of Pomology and Floriculture, Pomologiczna 18, 

96-100 Skierniewice, Poland; e-mail: mtart@insad.pl 

(Received on 13 January 2006, Accepted on 6 November 2006) 

347 

Abstract: The effectiveness of acaricides: Envidor 240 SC (spirodiclofen) and Milbeknock EC 

(mibemectin) in controlling mites in commercial apple and plum orchards was evaluated in 2001–2004 

in various localities. In all experiments, Milbeknock EC and Envidor 240 SC showed very high and longlasting 

efficacy in controlling mites on apple and plum trees. During 6–12 weeks following the treatment, 

the mite population did not exceed the economical threshold level. 

Key words: mites, acaricides, Milbeknock EC, Envidor 240 SC 

INTRODUCTION 

Mites in orchards have been dangerous for a long time. Through sucking out 

sap from leaves, spider mites reduce the level of photosynthesis and disturb transpiration. 

The infested trees lose their leaves earlier than normally, the fruits are small 

and acid, and the crop yield is reduced. Markedly affected trees also reduce the number 

of flower buds set for the next year and are more susceptible to frost (GOLIK 1975). 

Chemical control should be applied very often, when mite density is at or above the 

economic threshold level. Efficacy of various preparations for control of the mites 

have been investigated by many authors (SMOLARZ 1990, SMOLARZ et al. 1990, 

MACIESIAK & OLSZAK 2001). Adjustment to the rules obligatory in the European 

Union has resulted in withdrawal of some active compounds from pest control in 

Poland (CZAPLICKI 2003). The products containing amitraz (Mitac 200 EC, Samba 

200 EC, Acaritox 200 EC) were eliminated from the Polish register of acaricides in 

2005. Other compounds can also be rejected until 2008. Testing of new, modern 

acaricides is thus needed. This study aimed to evaluate some new-generation acaricides 

(Envidor 240 SC and Milbeknock EC) for control of mites on apple and plum 

trees. The efficacy of these compounds has not been tested so far in commercial 

orchards in Poland. However, the product Envidor 240 EC has proved useful for 

control of two-spotted spider mites on currants (£ABANOWSKA 2002).

348 Alicja Maciesiak and Ryszard W. Olszak 

MATERIAL AND METHODS 

The experiments were conducted in 2001–2004 in several commercial orchards 

in some regions of Poland. The effectiveness of the new acaricides Envidor 240 SC 

(spirodiclofen) and Milbeknock EC (mibemectin) was compared with the standard 

preparations Mitac 200 EC (amitraz), Omite 30 WP (propargite), Ortus 05 SC (fenpyroximate). 

The experiments, conducted in 4 replicates, were set up in a block design 

with plots of 0.1–0.3 ha each as a combination. Treatments were performed with a 

tractor sprayer using 600–750 l of spraying liquid per ha. Mobile forms of spider 

mites were counted on leaves sampled from the external part of the crown of trees 

growing in the middle part of the plot. Population density was evaluated with HEN- 

DERSON & MCBURNIE’s (1943) method on 50 leaves for each replicate and date. A 

n= 

k−1 

t n 

cumulative index of infestation (CII = ∑ ( ⋅( 

x )) 

= 1 

n + x 

n 

n+ 

1 mite unit days where k 

2 

is the number of occasions on which the mites were counted; n , n+ 

1 are consecutive 

indices; is the time, in days, between the consecutive indices ) 

(WRATTEN et al. 1979) was calculated for each test. The results were subjected to an 

analysis of variance. Duncan’s t test was employed to evaluate the significance of 

differences at P=0.05. 

x x 

t n 

n , n+ 

1 x x 

2 

Table 1. Effectiveness of Envidor 240 SC and Milbeknock EC in controlling mites on apple trees (2001– 

2002) 

Treatment 

Rate/ha 

Mean no. of mites per leaf 

Weeks after treatment 

3–4 5–6 7–8 11–12 

Location A – Grzymkowice, near Grójec, spraying date 17 May 2001 

Envidor 240 SC - 0.4 l 0.0 a* 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.1 a 0.5 a 

Milbeknock EC - 1.0 l 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.1 a 0.0 a 1.7 ab 

Omite 30 WP - 2.25 kg 0.3 b 0.02 a 0.05 a 0.5 a 5.1 b 

Control 1.9 c 4.7 b 3.1 b 3.3 b 100.0 c 

Location B – Wilcze Piêtki, near Grójec, spraying date 25 May 2001 

Envidor 240 SC - 0.4 l 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.1 a 0.6 a 

Milbeknock EC - 1.0 l 0.01 a 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.1 a 1.0 a 

Omite 30 WP - 2.25 kg 0.5 b 0.0 a 0.8 ab 1.3 b 26.6 b 

Control 0.4 b 1.1 b 3.0 c 3.6 c 100.0 c 

Location C – Muchnice, near Kutno, spraying date 10 May 2002 

Milbeknock EC - 0.75 l 0.6 b 0.4 b 0.3 a – 4.5 a 

Milbeknock EC - 1.0 l 0.1 a 0.02 a 0.1 a – 1.2 a 

Ortus 05 SC - 1.5 0.1 a 0.7 b 2.4 b – 8.6 a 

Control 18.8 c 10.8 c 12.1 c – 100.0 b 

Location D – Nowa Wieœ, near Grójec, spraying date 9 May 2002 



Ortus 05 SC - 1.5 l 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.0 a – 0.0 a 

Control 8.7 b 1.7 b 3.8 b – 100.0 b 

CII – cumulative index of infestation (control = 100%) 

* Means followed by the same letter within columns do not differ significantly at P=0.05 

CII 

(%)

Treatment 

Rate (kg/ha) 


RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

Table 2. Effectiveness of Envidor 240 SC and Milbeknock EC in controlling mites on apple trees (2003– 

2004) 



2 4 6 8 

Location E – Wilcze Piêtki, near Grójec, spraying date 4 June 2003 

Milbeknock EC -0.75 l 0.0* 0.1 ab 0.1 ab 0.1 ab 3.2 ab 


Ortus 05 SC - 1.0 l 0.0 a 0.1 ab 0.0 a 0.0 a 1.2 a 

Control 1.7 b 2.8 c 3.8 c 7.0 c 100.0 c 

Location F – Lewiczyn, near Grójec, spraying date 27 April 2004 



Milbeknock EC - 0.75 l 0.0 a 0.02 a 0.0 a 1.3 b 0.8 a 


Mitac 200 EC - 3.0 l 0.0 a 1.4 b 1.1 b 21.0 c 12.6 a 

Control 4.1 b 25.1 c 8.1 c 18.3 c 100.0 b 

Location G – Pêsy, near P³oñsk, spraying date 28 April 2004 

Envidor 240 SC - 0.3 l 0.3 b 0.2 b 0.1 a 5.2 cd 13.3 b 

Envidor 240 SC - 0.4 l 0.1 ab 0.9 c 0.1 a 0.6 b 6.4 ab 

Milbeknock EC - 0.75 l 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.1 b 0.2 a 


Mitac 200 EC - 3.0 l 0.0 a 0.02 a 0.02 a 0.0 a 0.3 a 

Control 5.7 b 7.9 c 5.9 b 18.2 d 100.0 b 



CII 

(%) 

349 

The acaricides Envidor 240 SC and Milbeknock EC in all experiments was very 

effective on apple (Tables 1, 2) and plum tress (Table 3). The mite population on 

apple leaves sprayed with this acaricide remained below the economical threshold 

level (3 active stages of mites per leaf in the spring, and 5-7 mites per leaf in the 

summer) during 8–12 weeks after treatment. A similar effect was obtained with the 

tested standard acaricides. At locations A and B (Table 1) on trees treated with Envidor 

240 SC and Milbeknock EC as well as with Omite 30 WP as the standard 

product, the density of spider mites was low during the whole observation period 

(until 11–12 weeks after the treatment). At location D (Table 1) as well as at location 

E (Table 2), no spider mites were recorded during 7-8 weeks after treatment with 

Milbeknock EC (0.75 l/ha and 1 l/ha) and the standard Ortus 05 SC. At location C 

an application of Milbeknock EC resulted in a very low density of the spider mite 

population during the following 7–8 weeks of observation, while the standard Ortus 

05 SC showed a somewhat shorter activity period (6 weeks). The products Envidor 

240 EC and Milbeknock EC applied at location F kept the density of spider mites at 

a low level during 8 subsequent weeks of observation. The standard product Mitac 

200 EC showed a good activity during 6 weeks after the treatment. However, 2 weeks 

later the densities of spider mites were high and comparable to the control. At location 

F the activity of Envidor 240 EC at a dose of 0.4 l/ha and Milbeknock EC on all

350 Alicja Maciesiak and Ryszard W. Olszak 

Table 3. Effectiveness of Envidor 240 SC and Milbeknock EC in controlling mites on plum trees (2003– 

2004) 

Treatment Rate 

(kg/ha) 



2 5 7 9 

Location H – Ostrowiec, spraying date 3 June 2003 

Envidor 240 SC 0.4 0.0 a* 0.0 a 0.0 a 0.1 a 0.5 a 

Milbeknock EC 0.75 0.0 a 0.02 a 0.0 a 0.02 a 0.2 a 


Mitac 200 EC 3.0 0.0 a 0.5 b 3.7 b 13.6 b 37.1 b 

Control – 0.6 b 4.1 c 14.5 c 21.7 b 100.0 c 

Location I – Mi³ob¹dz, spraying date 16 July 2003 

Envidor 240 SC 0.4 0.3 a 0.7 a 0.05 a 0.1 a 1.8 a 

Milbeknock EC 0.75 4.3 b 2.8 a 2.8 b 1.4 b 14.2 b 


Mitac 200 EC 3.0 3.0 a 4.0 b 0.5 a 0.9 a 10.9 b 

Control – 25.6 c 20.9 c 17.4 c 18.8 c 100.0 c 

Location J – Ostrowiec, spraying date 30 June 2004 

2 3 4 5 6 

Envidor 240 SC 0.4 0.03 a 0.0 a 0.8 a 1.3 a 0.1 a 8.9 a 

Milbeknock EC 0.75 0.02 a 0.0 a 1.1 ab 0.9 a 0.05 a 9.4 a 

Milbeknock EC 1.0 0.0 a 0.04 a 0.9 a 1.0 a 0.0 a 9.4 a 

Mitac 200 EC 3.0 0.05 a 3.7 b 2.4 bc 1.0 a 0.4 b 34.4 b 

Control – 15.4 b 8.3 c 3.1 c 4.0 b 4.7 c 100.0c 



dates of observation was similar to that of the standard Mitac 200 EC. In the same 

orchard, Envidor SC applied at a dose of 0.3 l/ha was effective for a shorter time. 

The products Envidor 240 EC as well as Milbeknock EC showed also a high efficacy 

in plum orchards (Table 3). Their application resulted in a very low density of 

spider mites on all dates of observation, comparable with that obtained on trees treated 

with the standard Mitac 200 EC at locations H and J(2004). At location H(2003), 

however, the activity of Envidor 240 EC and Milbeknock EC was much better than 

that of the standard Mitac 200 EC. The products Envidor 240 SC and Milbeknock 

EC have demonstrated a high efficacy in controlling spider mites in apple and plum 

orchards. They can thus replace the products containing amitraz, withdrawn from the 

market already, or the ones that can be withdrawn in the near future. 

CONCLUSIONS 

The high effectiveness of Envidor 240 SC (spirodiclofen) and Milbeknock EC 

(mibemectin) and their long-lasting action justifies their recommendation for practical 

use. 

CII 

(%)


REFERENCES 

351 

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(Koch) on apple. Zesz. Probl. Post. Naul Rol. 171: 15–34. 

HENDERSON C. F., MCBURNIE H. V. 1943. Sampling technique for determining populations of the 

citrus red mite and its predators. USDA Circ. 671: 1–11. 

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SMOLARZ S. 1990. Effectiveness of clofentezine and hexythiazox in the control of the fruit tree 

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SMOLARZ S., SUSKI Z., KOBIELA B. 1990. Control of the fruit tree red mite Panonychus ulmi Koch 

with fenpropathrin and flucythrinate in apple orchard. Zesz. Probl. Post. Nauk Rol. 373: 55–62. 

WRATTEN S. D., LEE G., STEVENS D. J. 1979. Duration of cereal aphid populations and the effects 

on wheat yield and quality. Proc. British Crop. Protec. Conf. 1: 1–8. 

Associate editor: ANNA SKORACKA

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