Toxicity of insecticides to the egg parasitoids Telenomus podisi and Trissolcus teretis (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

ABSTRACT This work aims to evaluate the toxicity of insecticides used for stink bug control to the egg parasitoids Telenomus podisi and Trissolcus teretis. We tested ethiprole and sulfoxaflor + lambda-cyhalothrin in comparison with thiamethoxam + lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorpyrifos. Three independent bioassays were conducted in the laboratory and repeated for each parasitoid species, to evaluate the effect of insecticides on pupal and adult stages of the parasitoids and the effects of insecticide sprays on host eggs prior to parasitism. Ethiprole at concentrations of 100 and 133.3 g/100 L H2O was classified as harmless (class 1), according to the International Organization of Biological Control to both pupae and adults of T. podisi. When tested against T. teretis, ethiprole was classified as harmless (class 1) and slightly harmful (class 2), but it still was the most selective pesticide among the studied chemicals. When adult parasitoids of both species were exposed to sprayed host eggs, parasitism rates were similar. The other treatments triggered more severe negative side effects to the parasitoids, especially to adults. Overall, ethiprole was the least toxic compound among the studied products and should be preferred in integrated pest management aimed at preserving these biocontrol agents, while the other tested insecticides should be evaluated under semi-field and field conditions to verify their higher toxicity.

Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) development, preference for feeding and oviposition related to different food sources

ABSTRACT The dispersion of Diceraeus melacanthus (Dallas) from soybean (first crop season) to maize (second crop season) is facilitated by the presence of weeds (e.g. Commelina benghalensis) and soybean grains on the ground. Understanding insect development and behavior on different food sources is important to develop pest management strategies. Thus, three independent experiments were conducted to study D. melacanthus nymph development, and adult preference for feeding and oviposition in different food source scenarios in the field. The first two trials studied development and food preference of D. melacanthus related to different food sources (C. benghalensis branches, moistened soybean grain + soybean seedlings, maize seedlings + C. benghalensis branches, moistened soybean grains + maize seedlings, moistened soybean grains + C. benghalensis branches, maize seedlings, as well as a standard diet). The third trial evaluated D. melacanthus oviposition preferences between the aforementioned plants. Overall, moistened soybean grains resulted in better nutritional quality, thus being crucial for D. melacanthus development, triggering faster nymph development as well as better overall adult fitness. The combination of soybean grains and maize seedlings or C. benghalensis branches showed great potential to benefit D. melacanthus, since these complementary food sources improved stink bug fitness, increasing mainly adult longevity, fecundity and egg viability. Therefore, it can be concluded that in order to reduce D. melacanthus outbreaks in second season maize, it is important to reduce soybean harvest loss (reducing, therefore, moistened soybean grain on the ground) and eliminate stink bug associated plants like C. benghalensis.

Selectivity of different biological products to the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae)

ABSTRACT The selectivity of five entomopathogens and a chemical insecticide (positive control) to pupae and adults of the egg parasitoid Telenomus remus (Nixon) was evaluated in the laboratory under controlled environmental conditions according to protocols established by the International Organization for Biological Control. Baculovirus anticarsia (Baculovirus AEE®), Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Thuricide®), Bacillus thuringiensis var. aizawai (Agree®), Beauveria bassiana (Boveril®), Metarhizium anisopliae (Metarril®) and Trichoderma harzianum (Trichodermil®) are harmless to T. remus pupae, and adults. Thus, our results suggest that the insect control strategies applied here are compatible since entomopathogens were classified as harmless to T. remus in most examined cases and therefore facilitate a joint application to control different pests. Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Dipel®), despite being classified as slightly harmful in some of the evaluations, can still be considered compatible for use together with T. remus, especially when compared with chemical insecticides such as chlorpyrifos that might be considered harmful to the parasitoid survival.

Pesticide selectivity to natural enemies: challenges and constraints for research and field recommendation / Seletividade de agrotóxicos nos inimigos naturais: desafios e restrições para a pesquisa e recomendações de campo

ABSTRACT: Pesticides are considered the first line of defense for the control of pests and diseases. At least in the short and medium term, the use of pesticides will remain an important strategy for pest management, allowing growers to produce crops of sufficient quality at low costs. A broad approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines several different pest-control strategies, among which the combination of chemical and biological control stands out. It requires pesticides that achieve optimal control of target pests with minimal impact on the activity of biological control agents. Because of the dynamics of pest infestations, IPM routines are continuously adjusted by growers, requiring comprehensive information about pesticide effects on natural enemies. However, this information is not always available and often contradictory, which constrains the design of field recommendations. In this review, we focused on the importance of selective pesticides in IPM programs, and the effects of chemical pesticides on parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogenic fungi. We provided a detailed discussion of the challenges and constraints for research on pesticide effects on natural enemies, as well as for the resulting field recommendations.

RESUMO: Para o controle de pragas e doenças, os agrotóxicos são considerados a primeira linha de defesa. Pelo menos no curto e médio prazo, o seu uso continuará a ser uma estratégia importante de manejo, permitindo aos produtores produzir com baixo custo e boa qualidade. O manejo integrado de pragas (MIP) combina várias estratégias diferentes de controle de pragas. Entre elas, a associação do controle químico e biológico tem grande importância. Isto depende de agrotóxicos que tenham um ótimo controle das pragas alvo, com mínimo de impacto possível sobre a atividade dos agentes de controle biológico. Assim, devido à dinâmica de pragas, os produtores precisam de informações completas sobre os efeitos dos agrotóxicos sobre os inimigos naturais visando constantemente ajustar suas rotinas de MIP. No entanto, estas informações não estão sempre disponíveis, e quando encontradas, são muitas vezes contraditórias, o que prejudica as recomendações de campo. Nesta revisão, destacamos a importância de agrotóxicos seletivos em programas de MIP e seus efeitos sobre parasitoides, predadores e fungos entomopatogênicos. Ainda, discutiremos com mais detalhes os desafios e restrições para a pesquisa e recomendações de campo sobre seletividade de agrotóxicos.

Organic products selectivity for Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) / Seletividade de produtos orgânicos para Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The selectivity of different insecticides, fungicides and fertilizers used in organic soybean cropping was evaluated according to the protocols proposed by the Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms Working Group of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) concerning adults and pupae of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) under laboratory conditions. Treatments 1) baculovirus anticarsia 140 x 109 cpi; 2) Bacillus thuringiensis 16.8 g; 3) azadirachtin-A, azadirachtin-B, nimbina and salamina 9.6 ppm; 4) rotenoids 4% 4 L; 5) nitrogen 1.3%, phosphorus 3.0% and total organic carbon 8.0% 3 L; 6) sodium silicate 2% 4 L; 7) copper 7% + calcium 3.3% 1.8 L; 8) sulfur 20% + quicklime 10% 1.8 L were in general safe (class 1) to both adults and pupae of T. pretiosum . Differently, chlorpyrifos (control treatment) was harmful to this parasitoid. Therefore, the utilization of the tested natural derived products in the production of organic soybean is viable, without impairing the natural biological control allowed by T. pretiosum . Furthermore, both management techniques can indeed be used together in organic cropping aiming at reaching increasing or complementary control of target pests. Chlorpyrifos use, on the other hand, whenever possible, should be replaced by other products more compatible with biological control preservation.(AU)

A seletividade de diferentes inseticidas, fungicidas e fertilizantes usados no cultivo de soja orgânica foi avaliada de acordo com os protocolos propostos pela Pesticide and Beneficial Organisms Working Group of the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) sobre pupas e adultos de Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) em condições de laboratório. Os tratamentos 1) baculovírus anticarsia 140 x 109 cpi; 2) Bacillus thuringiensis 16,8 g; 3) azadirachtin-A, azadirachtin-B, nimbina e salamina 9,6 ppm; 4) rotenoides 4% 4 L; 5) nitrogênio 1,3%, fósforo 3,0% e carbono orgânico total 8,0% 3 L; 6) silicato de sódio 2% 4 L; 7) cobre 7% + cálcio 3,3% 1,8 L; 8) enxofre 20% + cal virgem 10% 1,8 L foram, no geral, inócuos (classe 1) para pupas e adultos de T. pretiosum . Diferentemente, clorpirifós (tratamento controle) foi nocivo para esse parasitoide. A utilização dos produtos de origem natural avaliados é viável na sojicultura orgânica sem impactar o controle biológico promovido por T. pretiosum . Ambas as táticas de manejo podem ser utilizadas conjuntamente na agricultura orgânica objetivando aumentar ou complementar o controle da praga-alvo. O uso do clorpirifós, por outro lado, sempre que possível, deve ser substituído por outros produtos mais compatíveis com a preservação do controle biológico.(AU)

Toxicity of organic supplies for the egg parasitoid Telenomus podisi / Toxicidade de insumos orgânicos ao parasitoide de ovos Telenomus podisi

Toxicity (dosage per hectare) of: 1) Baculovirus anticarsia 140x109 cpi; 2) Bacillus thuringiensis 16.8g; 3) Azadirachtin-A, azadirachtin-B, nimbina and salamina 9.6 ppm; 4) Rotenoids 4 liters; 5) Nitrogen 1.3%, phosphorus 3.0% and total organic carbon 8.0% 3 liters; 6) Sodium silicate 2% 4 liters; 7) Copper 7% + calcium 3.3% 1.8 liters; 8) Sulfur 20% + quicklime 10% 1.8 liters; 9) Chlorpyrifos 384g; 10) Distilled H2O (control) were evaluated for pupae and adults of Telenomus podisi. Treatments from 1 to 8 were in general harmless (class 1) to both pupae and adults of T. podisi. Among them, only treatment 5 and 7 presented slightly toxic to the parasitoid with a reduction in parasitism 5 days after F1 parasitoid emergence. Differently, the chlorpyrifos was classified as slightly harmful (class 2) or moderately harmful (class 3). Therefore, the use of the tested organic agricultural supplies in the production of organic soybean is viable, without impairing the natural biological control allowed by this egg parasitoid. Chlorpyrifos use, on the other hand, is not allowed in organic soybean, but even on convention crop production, could whenever possible, be replaced by other products more compatible with T. podisi preservation.

A toxicidade (dosagem por hectare) de: 1) Baculovírus anticarsia 140x109cpi; 2) Bacillus thuringiensis 16,8g; 3) Azadirachtin-A, azadirachtin-B, nimbina e salamina 9,6ppm; 4) Rotenoides 4% 4 litros; 5) Nitrogênio 1,3%, fósforo 3,0% e carbono orgânico total 8,0% 3 litros; 6) Silicato de Sódio 2% 4 litros; 7) Cobre 7% + Cálcio 3,3% 1,8 litros; 8) Enxofre 20%, cal virgem 10% 1,8 litros; 9) Clorpirifós 384g; 10) Água destilada (controle) foi avaliada para pupas e adultos de Telenomus podisi. Os tratamentos do 1 ao 8 foram, em geral, inócuos (classe 1) para pupas e adultos de T. podisi. Entre eles, apenas os tratamentos 5 e 7 apresentaram toxicidade sobre o parasitoide, reduzindo o parasitismo 5 dias após a emergência da geração F1. Diferentemente, clorpirifós foi classificado como levemente nocivo (classe 2) e moderadamente nocivo (classe 3). Portanto, o uso dos insumos orgânicos avaliados é viável na produção da soja orgânica sem prejudicar o controle biológico natural deste parasitoide de ovos. O clorpirifós, entretanto, não é permitido na agricultura orgânica. Mesmo na agricultura convencional, sempre que possível, seu uso pode ser evitado, substituindo-o por outros produtos mais compatíveis com a preservação de T. podisi.