This study evaluated the avoidance behavior and mortality of adult Allolobophora chlorotica (Annelida: Lumbricidae) exposed to soil contaminated with microplastics using a four-chamber avoidance test. Microplastic particles derived from agricultural mulch films were incorporated into soil at concentrations of 0.25%; 0.5%, and 0.75% (w/w). The highest avoidance response (96%) and mortality (12%) were recorded at 0.75% microplastic particles. ANOVA indicated a significant effect of microplastic presence as predictor (p < 0.01), whereas concentration and replicate had no significant values. The findings confirm that microplastics induce behavioral and survival responses in worms, emphasizing their ecological relevance as indicators of soil contamination and the potential risks of microplastic accumulation in agroecosystems.

The effects of mint hydrolate (Mentha piperita) on mortality and oviposition of Tetranychus urticae were evaluated under laboratory conditions on tomato cultivars. Hydrolate concentrations (10, 25, 50, and 100%) were tested, and adult mortality and egg production were assessed at 24, 48, and 72 h after treatment. No statistically significant differences were detected in mite mortality and oviposition when exposed to different concentrations over different exposure periods. However, multiple regression analysis demonstrated that time after treatment was a significant predictor of sublethal effects on the reproductive parameters of T. urticae.

Microplastic contamination is an increasing concern in terrestrial ecosystems, yet behavioral responses of soil-dwelling organisms remain less studied than conventional toxicity endpoints. This laboratory study assessed avoidance and mortality in three earthworm species, Eisenia fetida, Lumbricus terrestris, and Allolobophora chlorotica, and one soil-dwelling insect, Amara sp. (Carabidae), exposed to polyethylene microplastics at 0.10–0.30% (w/w). After 72 h, avoidance generally increased with polyethylene concentration, reaching 57.33% in E. fetida, 44.24% in L. terrestris, 51.90% in A. chlorotica, and 68.00% in Amara sp. at 0.30% polyethylene. Significant positive concentration effects were detected for E. fetida (odds ratio (OR) = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.10–1.79, p = 0.007) and Amara sp. (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.33–2.19, p < 0.001), whereas trends in L. terrestris and A. chlorotica were not significant. Among the three taxa tested in the same soil matrix, polyethylene concentration significantly affected avoidance, while taxon and the taxon × concentration interaction were not significant. Mortality at 0.30% polyethylene was 12% in E. fetida, 26% in L. terrestris, and 36% in A. chlorotica, with none recorded in Amara sp. These findings support combining behavioral and mortality endpoints when assessing microplastic effects on soil fauna.

The widespread development of acaricide resistance in the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, has intensified the need for sustainable pest management strategies. This narrative review examines phytoseiid predatory mites and essential oils as complementary components of integrated pest management against T. urticae. Web of Science and Scopus were searched for literature published from 1992 to 2026, resulting in 124 studies included in the review. The simultaneous or sequential use of multiple predatory mite species may enhance suppression under suitable ecological and management conditions, although predator performance can be affected by environmental conditions, competition, and intraguild interactions. Essential oils exhibit acaricidal, repellent, ovicidal, and sublethal effects against T. urticae, but their efficacy varies with chemical composition, concentration, exposure method, and experimental conditions. Most evidence derives from laboratory studies, and performance under realistic production conditions remains insufficiently evaluated. Some essential oils show favorable selectivity toward phytoseiid mites. However, others can also exert substantial adverse effects on predatory mites, indicating that high acaricidal efficacy against T. urticae does not necessarily imply selectivity toward beneficial species. Standardized protocols for evaluating essential oils remain lacking, and direct studies of their compatibility with predatory mites are limited. Further research should therefore validate essential oil efficacy, predator compatibility, and combined application strategies under realistic production conditions. These findings indicate that successful integration requires evaluation of each specific EO–predator combination, including acute and sublethal effects on the selected predator species. Promising combinations should subsequently be validated under realistic production conditions before practical implementation within Integrated Pest Management.