Comparative selectivity of pesticides used in greenhouses, on the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

ABSTRACT

A series of bioassays were conducted under laboratory conditions to determine the relative toxicities of various pesticides (acetamiprid, cypermethrin, chlorantraniliprole and emamectin benzoate, Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki and Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus, copper oxychloride, iprodione, mandipropamid, a mixture of propamocarb + fluopicolide and mixture of fludioxonil + cyprodinil) on Aphidius colemani adults and mummies, as well as sublethal effects on female fecundity. Cypermethrin was highly toxic to pupa of A. colemani within host mummies. Acetamiprid, cypermethrin, emamectin benzoate, a mixture of propamocarb + fluopicolide and mixture of fludioxonil + cyprodinil were also highly toxic to A. colemani adults (92–100% mortality at 48 h post treatment). Mandipropamid, iprodione and copper oxycloride treatments significantly reduced fecundity of the female parasitoids. In contrast B. thuringiensis var. kurstaki, H. armigera nucleopolyhedrovirus and chlorantraniliprole were harmless (<30% mortality) to the parasitoid species tested according to International Organisation for Biological Control toxicity classification and are likely to be compatible with integrated pest management programmes.

KEYWORDS:

• Pesticide
• aphid
• parasitoid
• toxicity
• selectivity
• mummy

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Joint Technical Secretariat of Cross Border Cooperation Programme ‘Greece – Cyprus 2007–2013' for valuable assistance through the project K3_1_03 ‘Hydroflies’.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The Project was co-financed 80% by the European Union (ERDF) and 20% by national funds of Greece and Cyprus.