Effects of Sublethal Concentrations of Pyridaben on Development, Reproduction, and Vg Gene Expression in Neoseiulus womersleyi

The predatory mite <i>Neoseiulus womersleyi</i> is a key natural enemy in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), but its efficacy is threatened by non-target effects of acaricides like pyridaben. This study evaluated the transgenerational sublethal effects of pyridaben (LC₃₀ and LC₅₀) on <i>N. womersleyi</i> and explored the role of vitellogenin (<i>Vg</i>) genes. Using two-sex life table analysis, we found that exposure reduced longevity, fecundity, and oviposition period in F₀ females, while prolonging immature development and suppressing population growth parameters (<i>r</i>, <i>λ</i>) in F₁. Two <i>Vg</i> genes (<i>NwVg1</i> and <i>NwVg2</i>) were cloned and characterized; their expression was significantly downregulated by pyridaben. RNAi-mediated silencing of <i>NwVg1</i> or <i>NwVg2</i> recapitulated the pyridaben-induced reproductive impairments, confirming their functional role. Our results demonstrate that pyridaben imposes multigenerational costs and that its reproductive toxicity is mediated, at least in part, through the suppression of Vg synthesis.