Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) show strong potential for improving crop productivity and stress resilience, but their direct effects on agricultural pests require careful evaluation. Here, we assessed single-walled CNTs (SWCNTs) on the spider mite Tetranychus turkestani (Acari: Tetranychidae) using an age-stage, two-sex life table. Leaf disks treated with SWCNTs (0.004, 0.04, 0.2, 0.4 mg/mL) were used to measure development, survival, and reproduction. SWCNT exposure significantly prolonged pre-adult development and reduced female fecundity in a concentration-dependent manner. Population parameters (r, λ) declined significantly in treated groups, while mean generation time (T) increased with concentration. At 0.4 mg/mL, fecundity dropped to 40.57 ± 2.42 offspring per female and population projection was lowest. Overall, SWCNTs inhibited mite development and reproduction in a concentration-dependent manner, providing a demographic basis for ecological risk assessment and suggesting potential utility as a tool or carrier system for integrated spider mite management.