The 'island method' - a new laboratory test method to determine side-effects of plant protection products on the predatory mite Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten (Acari, Phytoseiidae)

The model introduced here is an open test which produces experimental resul ts of the same quality as a former test model and at the same time achieves considerable savings in both time and materials. The characteristic featur e of the present method is that the mites are kept on a treated glass surfa ce floating on water. The water forms a natural barrier ensuring that the m ites cannot escape from the treated area.