Testing the selectivity of pesticide effects on natural enemies in laboratory bioassays

Publication date: Available online 15 December 2015 Source:Biological Control Author(s): Kaushalya G. Amarasekare, Peter W. Shearer, Nicholas J. Mills The toxic effects of older classes of pesticides on natural enemies are typically acute and exposure usually occurs through direct contact with foliar residues. However, older chemistries are being replaced by newer classes of pesticides that can cause sublethal effects in addition to direct mortality. We developed a set of life table response protocols to quantify the effects of multiple routes of exposure to pesticides on individual-level life history parameters of predators and parasitoids. We then integrated the data into population-level endpoint estimates of population growth rates using stage-structured population models. For this study, we evaluated the impacts of five insecticides (cyantraniliprole, chlorantraniliprole, spinetoram, novaluron and lambda-cyhalothrin) and two fungicides (sulfur and a mixture of copper hydroxide and mancozeb) on a generalist insect predator Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and an aphid parasitoid Trioxys pallidus (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Green lacewings and T. pallidus are key members of the natural enemy community in western USA orchards. The results of these laboratory studies demonstrate that both C. carnea and T. pallidus were negatively affected by cyantraniliprole, spinetoram and lambda-cyhalothrin while only one species was affected by ch...
Source: Biological Control - Category: Biology Source Type: research