METHODICAL IMPROVEMENTS OF STANDARD LABORATORY TESTS FOR DETERMINING THE SIDE-EFFECTS OF AGROCHEMICALS ON PREDATORY MITES (ACARI, PHYTOSEIIDAE)

In the course of the alignment of national registration procedures wit h general EU guidelines, changes, improvements and validation of curre nt test guidelines are advisable. The following is intended to contrib ute to the improvement of the present standard laboratory test procedu re with predatory mites, as described by OVERMEER (1988). Changes in t he design of the test arena are described and discussed. They provide an open test system, conform with the requirements of the ESCORT Guida nce Document (ANONYMUS, 1994), avoiding uncontaminated areas on the te st unit, easy to handle, and enabling reproducible assessments of the impact of agrochemicals.