biostudies-literatureZeng CHubei Academy of Agricultural SciencesState’s Key Project of Research and Development PlanNational Natural Science Foundation of Chinae4534https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5863709biostudies-literatureUnknown6<h4>Background</h4>Tea is one of the most economically important crops in China. However, the tea geometrid (<i>Ectropis obliqua</i>), a serious leaf-feeding pest, causes significant damage to tea crops and reduces tea yield and quality. Spiders are the most dominant predatory enemies in the tea plantation ecosystem, which makes them potentially useful biological control agents of <i>E. obliqua</i>. These highlight the need for alternative pest control measures. Our previous studies have shown that tea saponin (TS) exerts insecticidal activity against lepidopteran pests<i>.</i> Here, we investigate whether TS represents a potentially new alternative insecticide with no harm to spiders.<h4>Methods</h4>We investigated laboratory bioactivities and the field control properties of TS solution aPeerJTea saponin reduces the damage of <i>Ectropis obliqua</i> to tea crops, and exerts reduced effects on the spiders <i>Ebrechtella tricuspidata</i> and <i>Evarcha albaria</i> compared to chemical insecticides.PMC5863709316723172016YFD02009002016jzxjh012Zeng CPeng YWu LYun YZhao YfalseTea saponin reduces the damage of <i>Ectropis obliqua</i> to tea crops, and exerts reduced effects on the spiders <i>Ebrechtella tricuspidata</i> and <i>Evarcha albaria</i> compared to chemical insecticides.<h4>Background</h4>Tea is one of the most economically important crops in China. However, the tea geometrid (<i>Ectropis obliqua</i>), a serious leaf-feeding pest, causes significant damage to tea crops and reduces tea yield and quality. Spiders are the most dominant predatory enemies in the tea plantation ecosystem, which makes them potentially useful biological control agents of <i>E. obliqua</i>. These highlight the need for alternative pest control measures. Our previous studies have shown that tea saponin (TS) exerts insecticidal activity against lepidopteran pests<i>.</i> Here, we investigate whether TS represents a potentially new alternative insecticide with no harm to spiders.<h4>Methods</h4>We investigated laboratory bioactivities and the field control properties of TS solution a2018-01-01T00:00:00Z20182026-06-06T20:33:10.046Z2019-03-26T23:20:37ZS-EPMC58637092957698810.7717/peerj.4534