Insecticidal Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles against Spodoptera frugiperda under Laboratory Conditions

Abstract

Fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda is a major pest of corn, rice, and sorghum among other crops usually controlled using synthetic or biological insecticides. Currently, the new invention of nanotechnology is taking root in the agricultural industry as an alternative source of pest management that is target-specific, safe, and efficient. This study sought to determine the efficacy of commercial Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) towards S. frugiperda under laboratory conditions. ZnO NPs were diluted into different concentrations (100–500 ppm), where the baby corn used to feed the S. frugiperda larvae was dipped. The development of the insect feeding on food dipped in ZnO solution was significantly (p < 0.05) affected, and the number of days that the insect took to complete its life cycle had a significant difference compared to the control. There was a significant difference in the adults’ emergence in all the concentrations of ZnO NPs compared to the control, with over 90% of the eggs successfully going through the life cycle until adult emergence. Additionally, several body malformations were observed throughout the lifecycle of the insect. Also, the fecundity of the females was greatly affected. The findings of this study suggest the possibility of exploitation of ZnO nanoparticles not only to manage S. frugiperda but to significantly reduce their population in the ecosystem through body deformations, reduced fecundity, reduced oviposition, and hatchability of eggs. It will be a valuable tool in integrated pest management regimens.

Halloysite Nanotube-Based Pesticide Formulations with Enhanced Rain Erosion Resistance, Foliar Adhesion, and Insecticidal Effect

“…This indicated that HNTs have a controlled release effect toward CAP on foliar surfaces. A previous study showed mortality of about 40% of larvae after 10 days of feeding on baby corn dipped in ZnO nanoparticle solution . In contrast, HNTs are inexpensive nanomaterials and significantly increase larval mortality.…”

“…A previous study showed mortality of about 40% of larvae after 10 days of feeding on baby corn dipped in ZnO nanoparticle solution. 44 In contrast, HNTs are inexpensive nanomaterials and significantly increase larval mortality. HNTs demonstrate a promising potential to be used as an alternative to the more lethal insecticides in controlling S. f rugiperda and other species.…”

Comparative Bioactivity of Silver, Aluminum Oxide, and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the House Fly “Musca Domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae)”

“…The decrease in adult longevity (especially oviposition period) of M. domestica obtained by the treatment with the tested NPs might be due to their accumulation in the different developmental stages. The efficiency of ZnONPs was also demonstrated against Spodoptera frugiperda at various doses (100-500 ppm), and adverse effects on development and the number of days required for the insect to finish its life cycle were reported [42] .…”

Insecticidal activity of Silica, Zinc and Copper nanoparticles against the German cockroach, Blatella germanica (L.) (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae)

“…Khooshe-Bast et al (2016) tested ZnO-NPs on Trialeurodes vaporariorum, the LC50 value was 7.35 mg and the mortality rate was 91.6% at 20 mg. Ramadan et al (2020) reported that the latent biological responses of Schistocerca gregaria treated with ZnO were more than that of CuO-NPs. Pittarate et al (2021) and Eskin & Nurullahoğlu (2022) also concluded that ZnO-NPs have toxic effects on Spodoptera frugiperda and Galleria mellonella. Other authors reported the toxic effects of CuO-NPs against different mosquito species (Vivekanandhan et al 2021a, b) and Spodoptera frugiperda (Rahman et al, 2022).…”

“…Zinc oxide NPs are popular among the significant metal oxides due to their physical and chemical peculiarity (Khooshe-Bast et al, 2016). ZnO-NPs have proved to possess enormous potential against insect pests (Haroun et al, 2020 andPittarate et al, 2021). The development of Nano-pesticides derived from Copper and Copper oxide has received considerable attention in the pesticide industry in recent years (Benilli et al, 2017).…”