Does pollen availability mitigate the impact of pesticides on generalist predatory mites?

The effect of the provision of pollen on the impact of pesticides on the predatory mite Kampimodromus aberrans was assessed in the laboratory and in a potted plant experiment. Survival and fecundity of predatory mites were reduced by insecticides, and spinosad was more toxic than chlorpyrifos. High pollen application frequency reduced the sub-lethal effect induced by chlorpyrifos. On potted plants, pollen applications reduced the impact of chlorpyrifos on K. aberrans. Results obtained here highlight that the provision of fresh pollen is of particular importance for predatory mites when pesticides are applied.