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 results of the same quality as a former test model and at the same time achieves considerable savings in both time and materials. The characteristic feature of the present method is that the mites are kept on a treated glass surface floating on water. The water forms a natural barrier ensuring that the mites cannot escape from the treated area.