Impact of Feeding on Contaminated Prey on the Life Parameters ofNesidiocoris Tenuis(Hemiptera: Miridae) Adults

Abstract

Insecticide selectivity to natural enemies is an important concern in integrated pest management programs. Although there is a wide range of information concerning pesticide lethal and sublethal effects on contaminated surfaces, little is known when the route of exposure occurs at a trophic level. This study evaluates this route of pesticide intake on the omnivorous predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) for the first time. Under laboratory conditions, prey treated with six insecticides (flubendiamide, spirotetramat, deltamethrin, flonicamid, metaflumizone, and sulfoxaflor) were offered to N. tenuis adults for 3 days. Mortality (24, 48, and 72 h after treatment), offspring production (third until eighth day) and longevity were documented. Metaflumizone and sulfoxaflor were classified as moderately harmful products because although the percentage of mortality was only 28 and 36%, respectively, both products caused a severe decrease in offspring production and longevity. Flonicamid and flubendiamide were classified as slightly harmful products; although they did not have a lethal effect, sublethal impact was important on the parameters studied. Spirotetramat and deltamethrin were insecticides categorized as harmless. This information could be useful for selecting the most appropriate insecticides to control pests in tomato crops in which N. tenuis is a relevant biological control agent.

An update of the Worldwide Integrated Assessment (WIA) on systemic insecticides. Part 2: impacts on organisms and ecosystems

“…Secondary poisoning by preying on neonicotinoidcontaminated prey was already known from laboratory studies (Walker et al 2007;Wanumen et al 2016b), but it has now been confirmed under field situations: after feeding on contaminated aphid prey in wheat fields treated with thiamethoxam, the ladybird Coleomegilla maculata experienced sublethal effects that significantly impaired its predation capabilities (Bredeson et al 2015). As a consequence, the target pest is not effectively eliminated by its natural enemy, potentially leading to pest resurgence.…”

Feeding Behavior and Virus-transmission Ability of Insect Vectors Exposed to Systemic Insecticides

“…In IPM programs, chemical control should be selective towards the target pest species and ideally harmless towards nontarget beneficial organisms [61,62]. Several studies evaluated the toxicity of the insecticides used in the present work on nontarget organisms [63][64][65]. Some of these chemical compounds may have undesirable effects on specific biocontrol agents; therefore, their inclusion in sustainable IPM programs should be adopted with caution.…”

Lethal and behavioral sublethal side effects of thiamethoxam on the predator Harmonia axyridis

“…Natural enemies are adversely affected through direct exposure to spray residues or droplets when foraging for prey or hosts but also through dietary exposure when feeding on contaminated plant material (e.g., pollen, nectar) or prey/host (Ahmad et al, 2003;Torres & Ruberson, 2004;Cabral et al, 2011;Cloyd & Bethke, 2011;He et al, 2012;Abbes et al, 2015). Therefore, different exposure routes were used to assess the toxicity of insecticides to natural enemies, including topical assays, residual toxicity tests, treated plants, and treated prey/hosts (Desneux et al, 2007;Cloyd & Bethke, 2011;Biondi et al, 2012b;Wanumen et al, 2016). In the specific case of predators, a major route of exposure to pesticides is through ingestion of contaminated prey (Wang & Shen, 2002;He et al, 2012;Wanumen et al, 2016).…”

“…Therefore, different exposure routes were used to assess the toxicity of insecticides to natural enemies, including topical assays, residual toxicity tests, treated plants, and treated prey/hosts (Desneux et al, 2007;Cloyd & Bethke, 2011;Biondi et al, 2012b;Wanumen et al, 2016). In the specific case of predators, a major route of exposure to pesticides is through ingestion of contaminated prey (Wang & Shen, 2002;He et al, 2012;Wanumen et al, 2016).…”