Supervivencia y oviposición de Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychiidae) bajo exposición a extractos botánicos crudos

Chemically synthesized acaricides are widely used to control Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae), a major agricultural pest that causes significant crop damage. However, the excessive use of synthetic acaricides has led to the emergence of resistant mite populations, complicating pest management. This challenge has driven the search for alternative strategies, including cultural and biological control, which have shown promise. Another potential alternative is botanical extracts, which may be effective even at sublethal doses. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of 10 botanical extracts on the mortality and oviposition of Tetranychus urticae adults under laboratory conditions. The extracts were tested at a single mean dose (0.06% w/v). The ethanol crude extract of Nectandra amazonum exhibited the highest corrected mortality (14.4%) at 96 hours. Significant oviposition alterations were observed throughout the bioassay, with notable effects at 24 and 96 hours (P<0.05). LC-MS analysis of the extracts identified 42 major compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenes, which are likely responsible for the observed effects. These findings indicate that the tested botanical extracts significantly affect Tetranychus urticae reproductive capacity, supporting their potential role in integrated pest management strategies.