Side effects of flonicamide and pymetrozine on five aphid natural enemy species

Abstract

The effects of flonicamide and pymetrozine, on inert and natural substrates, on the rove beetle Aleochara bilineata (Gyll.), the parasitic wasp Aphidius rhopalosiphi (DeStefani-Perez), the ladybird Adalia bipunctata (L.), the carabid beetle Bembidion lampros (Herbst), and the hoverfly Episyrphus balteatus (DeGeer) were assessed in the laboratory. Deltamethrin and pirimicarb were also tested as toxic reference compounds. The results indicated high selectivity of flonicamide and pymetrozine for all the species tested. No significant effects on B. lampros and A. bilineata were recorded for sand or on E. balteatus for plants. Pymetrozine on inert substrates had no effects on A. bipunctata larvae, whereas flonicamid was slightly toxic on glass plates but harmless on plants. Both compounds were toxic to adult A. rhopalosiphi on glass plates and on plants in the laboratory, but no effects were observed on plants treated in the field. In comparison, the toxic reference products were always more toxic. Compared with classical insecticides tested on the same species using similar methods, flonicamide and pymetrozine seem to be promising insecticides for aphid control in terms of selectivity for aphid antagonists.

Susceptibility of cocooned pupae and adults of the parasitoid Microplitis mediator to selected insecticides

“…However, Van Driesche et al (2008) and Jansen et al (2011) found direct toxic effects when adults of Aphidius colemani (Viereck) or A. rhopalosiphi, respectively, were exposed to residues on glass plates. Sub-lethal effects in terms of reduced female fertility were reported by Jansen et al (2011), confirming the findings in the present study. Additionally, we observed reduced adult emergence after treatment of M. mediator cocoons.…”

Indirect Effects of Pesticides on Natural Enemies

“…It was reported by [130] that both flonicamid and pymetrozine, did not negatively affect the development time, fertility, and parasitism of a variety of natural enemies including the hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus; the carabid beetle, Bembidion lampros; the parasitoid, Aphidius rhopalosiphi; the ladybird beetle, Adalia bipunctata; and the rove beetle, Aleochara bilineata under laboratory conditions. In general, pymetrozine exhibited minimal indirect effects on the reproduction of N. californicus under laboratory conditions [121].…”

“…Selective feeding blockers, which include flonicamid and pymetrozine, inhibit the feeding activity of piercing-sucking insects (aphids and whiteflies) after initial insertion of their stylets into plant tissues and interfere with neural regulation of fluid intake through the mouthparts resulting in starvation [125][126][127][128][129][130]. It was reported by [130] that both flonicamid and pymetrozine, did not negatively affect the development time, fertility, and parasitism of a variety of natural enemies including the hoverfly, Episyrphus balteatus; the carabid beetle, Bembidion lampros; the parasitoid, Aphidius rhopalosiphi; the ladybird beetle, Adalia bipunctata; and the rove beetle, Aleochara bilineata under laboratory conditions.…”

Laboratory Evaluation of the Toxicity of Proteus, Pymetrozine, Deltamethrin, and Pirimicarb on Lady Beetle Hippodamia Variegata (Goeze) (Col.: Coccinellidae)

“…Also, Jansen et al (2011) reported the side effects of pymetrozine on five natural enemy species of aphids, including coccinellid Adalia bipunctata. These scientists expressed the high selectivity of the insecticide.…”