Postharvest disinfestation of diapausing and non-diapausing twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) on persimmons: Hot water immersion and coolstorage

The mortality response of diapausing and non‐diapausing twospotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae Koch) on persimmons to hot water immersion treatments between 44 and 54 °C was examined, for potential as a quarantine treatment. The mean immersion time for mean 99% mortality (LT99) of diapausing mites at 44 °C was 211 min, and this time decreased with increasing temperature to 3.6 min at 54 °C. Non‐diapausing mites were found to be less tolerant to temperatures below 48 °C, with an estimated LT99 of 102 min at 44 °C, but had similar thermotolerance above 48 °C. In 47 °C water the immersion time required to kill 99% of diapausing mites was estimated at 67 min. This time was not reduced by subsequent coolstorage at 0 °C for up to eight weeks. Rather, coolstorage had the effect of keeping mites alive, relative to LT99 estimates calculated for mites stored at 20 °C. Similarly the thermotolerance of mites did not change with increased time in diapause, even though mites in diapause for 12 weeks had high control mortality. Hot water immersion appears to be a potentially useful disinfestation method for persimmons.