Methodical improvements of standard laboratory tests for determining the sideeffects of agrochemicals on predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

In the course of the alignment of national registration procedures with general EU guidelines, changes, improvements and validation of current test guidelines are advisable. The following is intended to contribute to the improvement of the present standard laboratory test procedure with predatory mites, as described byOvermeer (1988). Changes in the design of the test arena are described and discussed. They provide an open test system, conform with the requirements of the ESCORT Guidance Document (Anonymus 1994), avoiding uncontaminated areas on the test unit, easy to handle, and enabling reproducible assessments of the impact of agrochemicals.