Effects of 37 fungicides on the rove beetleAleochara bilineata (Col.: Staphylinidae) in the laboratory

Abstract

Effects of 37 fungicides --several of which were mixtures --on adult females of the rove beetle, Aleochara bilineata, were investigated in the laboratory. The pesticides were tested in concentrations equivalent to the highest recommended dosages for practical use. Mortality, egg production and hatch of the eggs were recorded.Most fungicides had no serious effect on any of the parameters measured. Among the morpholine and dithiocarbamate fungicides, several had adverse effects on egg production and/or hatch of the eggs laid. Furthermore, chinomethionate and pyrazophos were found to be toxic at the dosages used. Results are compared to results obtained with other species of beneficial arthropods in the laboratory. The importance of including several species in the assessment of pesticide side effects as well as the importance of measuring sublethal effects are stressed. KEY-WORDS: Side effects, pesticides, beneficial arthropods, Aleochara bilineata, Staphylinidae, Coleoptera, fungicides, laboratory test method.Samsce-Petersen (1993) discussed the need for information about side effects of pesticides on natural enemies of pests and described the co-operation within the IOBC Working Group "Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms" as well as the joint pesticide testing programmes performed by this group. Six of these programmes have now been completed, with results of the latest summarised by Hassan et al. (1994).The standardised laboratory test for the rove beetle Aleochara bilineata (Gyll.) (SamsOePetersen, 1987) was used over a period of eight years , and 149 pesticides were tested. In the present paper, the method is briefly described and results of tests with 37 fungicides are presented and discussed. Some of the results have been published earlier by SamsCe-Petersen (1987), with a detailed description of the test and documentation of its reproducibility. Others were published by Hassan et al. (e.g. 1994) but only as belonging to one of four evaluation categories. Of the remaining results, those concerning insecticides and herbicides were published recently (SamsOe-Petersen, 1993& 1995, and the results from tests with fungicides are collected in this paper. Several formulated products were tested for chemical companies on a contractual basis and as the author has not obtained permission to publish the trade names of these, they are identified by code numbers.(~) Present address:

Effects of Chitin and Contact Insecticide Complexes on Rove Beetles in Commercial Orchards

“…The effects of insecticides on staphylinids' fitness were studied both under laboratory conditions (Samsøe—Petersen 1993, 1995a, 1995b; Botha 1994; Botha and Plessis 1995) and field experiments, in cereal crops (Sunderland 1992; Shah et al 2003). Mortality, egg production, and fertility were all adversely affected by insecticides.…”

“…Field experiments compared the sensitivity of rove beetles, ground beetles and spiders to three insecticides (pirimicarb, deltametrin, and dimethoate), and demonstrated that rove beetles presented a higher abundance compared to other groups the cause of this difference was not known ( Andersen 1982 ; Wickerman et al 1987 ; Good and Giller 1991 ). The effects of insecticides on staphylinids' fitness were studied both under laboratory conditions ( Samsøe—Petersen 1993 , 1995a , 1995b ; Botha 1994 ; Botha and Plessis 1995 ) and field experiments, in cereal crops ( Sunderland 1992 ; Shah et al 2003 ). Mortality, egg production, and fertility were all adversely affected by insecticides.…”

“…As for the urea herbicides, the strongest effect was exerted by methabenzthiazuron that caused total reproductive failure, killing the eggs. Strong negative effects on various life stages were noticed in bromoxynil, pyridate, haloxyfop, and carbaryl (the latter being also used as plant growth regulator) ( Samsøe-Petersen 1995a , 1995b ; Botha 1994 ; Botha and Plessis 1995 ).…”

Effects of 67 herbicides and plant growth regulators on the rove beetleAleochara bilineata (Col.: Staphylinidae) in the laboratory

“…For details of the test, calculations, the strain of beetles and reproducibility of the test, the reader is referred to Samsce-Petersen (1987, 1993& 1995.…”