Comparative toxicity of different chemical and biological insecticides against the scale insectDactylopius opuntiaeand their side effects on the predatorCryptolaemus montrouzieri

Comparison of the efficacy of two insecticides for the management of Dactylopius opuntiae on prickly pear cactus in Lebanon and monitoring of the insecticides residues dissipation rates in fruits and cladodes

“…Among all treatments, best mortality records and fastest activity were recorded on SFX + MO treatment. However, it is to be noted that El Aalaoui et al [7] showed that treatments of infested cactus plants with only mineral oil (780 g/L) at 2400 cc/hL induce 98-100% D. opuntiae mortality 24 h after treatment especially among firstand second-instar nymphs, and 50% mortality among adult females. Mineral oil interferes with the respiratory system of the insect causing it to die from asphyxiation, dissolves the external cottony waxy layer enfolding its body and protecting it from dehydration, disrupts its diet and discourages it from laying eggs (repellent effect) [9], causes death of newly hatched individuals, and creates an oily layer on eggs which stops the gases exchange and interrupts hatching.…”

“…Bacterial insecticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis, organic insecticides such as pyrethrum, neem, insecticidal soaps, diatomaceous earth, and mineral oil that yields between 93 and 100% mortality especially among first-and second instars, paraffinic oils, vegetal oil, and neutral detergents are the most used [5]. These have shown to promote efficacious control of the pest with the benefit of preserving simultaneously lady beetles and syrphid flies in treated fields [3,[5][6][7]. Likewise, several plant extracts have shown promising control of D. opuntiae in several countries such as Brazil [3], Morocco [7], and Ethiopia [8].…”

“…These have shown to promote efficacious control of the pest with the benefit of preserving simultaneously lady beetles and syrphid flies in treated fields [3,[5][6][7]. Likewise, several plant extracts have shown promising control of D. opuntiae in several countries such as Brazil [3], Morocco [7], and Ethiopia [8]. For instance, extracts of Mentha piperita L. (Lamiaceae) and Mentha spicata L. mixed with different emulsifiers induced body dehydration, obstruction of spiracles, and asphyxia on second instars [9].…”

“…Orange oil provoked death of nymphs and adults within 48 h after treatment [5]. And, d-limonene from citrus juice was mostly efficacious against adult females and second instars but had little adverse impact on natural predators [7] and caused chlorotic damage to cladodes [10]. Nonetheless, for all of these, further researches are required on spraying coverage and impact speed of the droplets in order to optimize pest control on severely infested areas as is the case in Lebanon.…”

Life history of Dactylopius opuntiae (Hemiptera: Dactylopiidae) on Moroccan resistant cactus germplasm

“…Considering the urgency of the mealybug, and to avoid the spread of this epidemic, the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fishing, Rural Development, and Water and Forests-Morocco, put in place a major emergency plan for the control of this mealybug in 2016. This plan also included a research program covering the most important management elements such as host plant resistance [23], pesticides, beneficial insects [24,25,26,27,28], and biopesticides [29]. Of all the investigated research pathways, the identification of ten mealybug-resistant genotypes is the part that offers great hope for the revival of the cactus industry at the present time [23].…”