Blackberry is part of the small-fruit group and the blackberry cultivation area is expanding as an important option for small farmers using the agroecological production system. Mites are prominent among the world’s major crop pests, as they can affect plants from growth to fruiting. The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of phytophagous and predatory mites in different blackberry genotypes in the municipality of Pelotas, RS, Brazil. This study was carried out in the period Nov. 2015 - Oct. 2016, totaling 14 samples. A total of 11,158 mites were collected [phytophagous (5940) and predatory (323) mites, and those with varied feeding habits (4895)], which were distributed in 8 families. The species Neotetranychus asper (Feres & Flechtmann, 2000), Diptacus rubuscolum (Trinidad, Duarte & Navia, 2018), and Acalitus orthomerus (Keifer, 1951) had highest occurrence. According to the faunistic classification, the N. asper phytophagous species is predominant in genotypes 128 and 178; whereas, D. rubuscolum is predominant in genotype 132. Monitoring of these genotypes is recommended to detect possible damage to the crop.

The spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (Koch, 1836), is one of the most important pests of strawberry production systems worldwide. Because plant resistance is an important integrated management strategy, the present study investigated the effects of 12 strawberry genotypes on the biological characteristics of this pest under laboratory conditions (25 ± 2 °C and RH 60 ± 10%; 12:12-hour photophase). The experiment was carried using 12 treatments (genotypes), divided into 20 replications each, in a completely randomized design. The response variables were the biological parameters of the spider mite and its survival rate. The development and survival of T. urticae were influenced by different strawberry genotypes. The Camarosa cultivar together with genotypes Selection 05 and 2017-04-03 negatively affected the development and survival of T. urticae. The Selection 02 genotype had greatest susceptibility to the spider mite, which allowed fast development and high survival rate. The reproductive parameters of T. urticae were affected differently as a function of the strawberry genotype, with the Camarosa cultivar and the genotypes Selection 05 and 2017-04-03 being unfavorable to development, suggesting a possible resistance based on antibiosis.

Black fungus gnat larvae are one of the primary insect pests in greenhouse and nursery crops, and Bradysia ocellaris (Comstock) (Diptera: Sciaridae) is one common pest species. This pest is difficult to control in Brazil because of the absence of registered insecticides. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of some insecticides on B. ocellaris larvae. We also verified that the insect growth regulator novaluron caused the deformation of B. ocellaris. Of the insecticides evaluated, malationa, and thiamethoxam showed high mortality rate (96 and 86 % respectively). Further, bioassays with acetamiprid (78 %) and novaluron (44 %) showed that the lethal concentrations (LC50) were 19.18 mg a.i.L-1 at 48h to acetamiprid and 1.24 mg a.i.L-1 at 120 h to novaluron. When larvae were fed on potato pieces treated with novaluron, independently of the dose, the mortality rate was 100 %, since no larvae could complete the development cycle. Among all evaluated insecticides, only acetamiprid and novaluron were considered effective tools for control of B. ocellaris larvae under laboratory conditions.