Integrated pest management relies upon the application of selective pesticides that do not hinder biological control. Phytoseiid mites represent an interesting case-study: they are amongst the most frequently used biological control agents and often are less affected by pesticides than their prey by natural tolerance or by developing resistance. The selectivity of a pesticide is determined by physiological processes that include metabolism, transport, and the affinity to the target-site. Genomic and transcriptomic studies start to elucidate the genetic and molecular mechanisms of differential toxicity in some phytoseiid species, such as a mutation in the sodium channel conferring pyrethroid resistance. Ecological selectivity is achieved by smart applications of pesticides and management practices that influence the persistence of phytoseiid mites on plants. Although modern pesticides often show lower acute toxicity, there is a need for robust assays and procedures that quantify lethal and sublethal effects, through different routes and times of exposure.

病虫害综合防治依靠选择性杀虫剂的应用而不会阻碍生物防治。拟除螨虫是一个有趣的案例研究：它们是最常用的生物防治剂之一，与农药相比，农药对杀虫剂的天然抵抗力或对抵抗力的抵抗力较小。农药的选择性取决于生理过程，包括新陈代谢，转运和对目标部位的亲和力。基因组学和转录组学研究开始阐明某些植物类毒素差异毒性的遗传和分子机制，例如钠通道中的突变赋予拟除虫菊酯抗性。通过选择性施用杀虫剂和影响植物中植物性螨虫持久性的管理实践来实现生态选择性。尽管现代农药通常显示出较低的急性毒性，但仍需要通过不同的途径和暴露时间来量化致死和亚致死作用的可靠测定方法和程序。