Selectivity and sublethal effects of some frequently-used biopesticides on the predator Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Abstract

The green miridbug, Cyrtorhinus lividipennis, is an important predator of the rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens. In this study, the selective toxicity of seven commercial biopesticides for C. lividipennis was examined under laboratory conditions; abamectin was the most selective to C. lividipennis, followed by matrine and azadirachtin. Veratridine, rotenone, Bacillus thuringiensis and Beauveria bassiana showed less selectivity for C. lividipennis. Subsequently, matrine, abamectin and azadirachtin were selected for sublethal assessments with respect to C. lividipennis due to their high toxicities to N. lugens. C. lividipennis treated with sublethal concentrations (LC 10 and LC 20) of the three biopesticides could distinguish volatiles released from healthy and N. lugens-infested plants indicating that the biopesticides tested did not affect the foraging ability of surviving miridbugs. Azadirachtin decreased the consumption capability of C. lividipennis when the densities of N. lugens were 20, 30, 40 and 50 insects per vial. Sublethal concentration treatment did not impact the pre-oviposition period or egg hatchability of C. lividipennis. However, the fecundity of C. lividipennis exposed to azadirachtin and abamectin increased by 27-41% compared to the untreated individuals. In summary, abamectin or matrine together with C. lividipennis could be considered an effective, sustainable pest management strategy for rice.

Life-table parameters, functional response, flight ability, and cross-generational effects of matrine demonstrate its safety to Hippodamia variegata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

“…Matrine even had some positive effects on H. variegata , with contact exposure being associated with higher rates of adult eclosion in the offspring generation, while oral (stomach) toxicity shortened pupal developmental time in the offspring generation. Our results were similar to existing studies, for example, Dai et al (2019) demonstrated that matrine is selective to the predatory mirid C. lividipennis and had no effect on its predation of Nilaparvata lugens . Tian et al (2020) found that matrine had no obvious influence on the densities of coccinellids, spiders, or parasitoids in tea plantations.…”

“…It controls many kinds of pests, including lepidopteran larvae, e.g., Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), Spodoptera litura Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Helicoverpa armigera Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), aphids e.g., Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Sitobion avenae Fabricius (Hemiptera: Aphididae), A. citricola van de Goot (Hemiptera: Aphididae), Macrosiphum rosirvorum Zhang (Hemiptera: Aphididae), spider mites e.g., Panonychus citri McGregor (Acariformes: Tetranychidae), psyllids e.g., Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Chermidae), plant bugs e.g., Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dür (Hemiptera: Chermidae), and whiteflies e.g., Aleurocanthus spiniferus Quaintance (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) (Fang et al 2018, Ma et al 2018, Shah et al 2020, Tian et al 2020). Its safety, conversely, has been demonstrated to several groups of natural enemies, including both predators e.g., ladybugs, spiders, and the mirid Cyrtorhinus lividipennis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) and parasitoids e.g., Aphidius matricariae Haliday (Hymenoptera:Aphytis) (Ali et al 2017, Fang et al 2018, Dai et al 2019, Jack et al 2022). In general, matrine has significant potential for use in pest control.…”

Azadirachtin-Based Insecticide: Overview, Risk Assessments, and Future Directions

“…Azadirachtin is registered in the United States as a general-use pesticide with a toxicological class Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of IV (relatively non-toxic). Azadirachtin seems to be selective, non-mutagenic, and readily degradable and has also been reported as safer for non-target organisms and beneficial organisms (Medina et al, 2004;Cordeiro et al, 2010;Mordue et al, 2010;Celestino et al, 2014;Dai et al, 2019); however, the presumed safety of azadirachtin has been questioned, especially, in relation to natural enemies and pollinators (Barbosa et al, 2015;Lima et al, 2015;Xavier et al, 2015;Bernardes et al, 2017Bernardes et al, , 2018Francesena and Schneider, 2018). Nevertheless, semifield and field studies may enable to reliably predict potential side effects of azadirachtin on non-target insects.…”

Growth Regulating Effects of Natural Pesticide, Azadirachtin from Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) on Insects: A Review

“…Azadirachtin is registered in the United States as a general-use pesticide with a toxicological class Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of IV (relatively non-toxic). Azadirachtin seems to be selective, non-mutagenic, and readily degradable and has also been reported as safer for non-target organisms and beneficial organisms (Medina et al, 2004;Cordeiro et al, 2010;Mordue et al, 2010;Celestino et al, 2014;Dai et al, 2019); however, the presumed safety of azadirachtin has been questioned, especially, in relation to natural enemies and pollinators (Barbosa et al, 2015;Lima et al, 2015;Xavier et al, 2015;Bernardes et al, 2017Bernardes et al, , 2018.…”