Laboratory test method to evaluate the effect of 31 pesticides on the predatory bug,Orius laevigatus (Het: Anthocoridae)

A laboratory test method was developed to evaluate the pesticide toxicity on the predatory bugOrius laevigatus (Fieber). Newly hatched first-instar nymphs ofO. laevigatus were exposed to spray deposits of pesticides that were sprayed on the glass plates of a drum cell at the manufacturer’s recommended maximum dosage. Nymphal mortality and oviposition of surviving adults were recorded. Test results of various (31) commonly used pesticides (insecticides, insecticides/acaricides, acaricides and fungicides) are presented and discussed in accord with the classification of the IOBC/WPRS Working Group ”Pesticides and Beneficial Organisms”. Most fungicides had no toxic effect on nymphal development and egg-laying of surviving adults. The acaricides tested had variable toxicity on the predatory bug, while some insect growth regulators, such as the benzoylphenyl urea were very toxic. Otherwise, the ecdysone agonist tebufenozide and azadirachtin were not harmful for nymphal development and oviposition     

Integrating pesticide effects with inundative biological control: interpretation of pesticide toxicity curves for Anaphes iole in strawberries

We examined pesticide residue effects on the egg parasitoid Anaphes iole Girault (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an inundative biological control agent for Lygus hesperus Knight (Heteroptera: Miridae) in strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa Duchesne). Our objectives were to identify compatible pesticides, determine appropriate parasitoid release timings for minimizing harmful effects, and develop an approach for interpreting pesticide toxicity curves. Six insecticides, 2 acaricides and 6 fungicides were tested, and survivorship of adult A. iole exposed to foliar residues for 48 h, at 4–6 different times after pesticide application, was examined. A logistic function was developed for incorporating control mortality at each test date. Values for LT₅₀ (Lethal Time for 50% mortality) and mortalities on day 1 (initial mortality) and day 13 (estimated maximum time parasitoid releases can be delayed under extreme summer conditions) were estimated. In the study, insecticide residues proved to be the most toxic, followed by those from acaricides while most fungicides were least toxic. Among insecticides, fenpropathrin, bifenthrin and carbaryl caused the greatest mortality (estimated mortality on day 13 >75%). Residues of naled resulted in the least mortality (LT₅₀=3.2 days) followed by methomyl (LT₅₀=8.3 days) and malathion (LT₅₀=13.2 days). Estimated mortality = 12.3% on day 13 for the acaricide propargite and <1% for abamectin. For the fungicides benomyl, captan, myclobutanil and thiram, estimated mortality on day 1 was <1%, and for iprodione it was <6%, indicating compatibility with A. iole releases. For sulfur, LT₅₀=0, but the mortality decay curve was relatively flat (estimated mortality on day 13=13.6%). These results suggest possibilities for integrating A. iole releases with certain pesticide programs by appropriate timing of pesticide applications to minimize negative impacts.     

Compatibility of early natural enemy introductions in commercial pepper and tomato greenhouses with repeated pesticide applications

Successful integrated pest management in protected crops implies an evaluation of the compatibility of pesticides and natural enemies (NE), as control strategies that only rely on one tactic can fail when pest populations exceed NE activity or pests become resistant to pesticides. Nowadays in Almería (Spain), growers release NE prior to transplanting or early in the crop cycle to favor their settlement before pest arrival because this improves biocontrol efficacy, although it extends pesticide exposure periods. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the compatibility of two applications of pesticides with key NE in 2‐year trials inside tomato and sweet pepper commercial greenhouses: Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae), Orius laevigatus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). In tomato, flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole (IOBC category 1) were compatible with N. tenuis, but chlorpyrifos‐methyl and spinosad (IOBC categories 2–3), which effectively reduced Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) density, compromised its predatory activity. In sweet pepper, chlorantraniliprole (IOBC category 1) was the only pesticide compatible with O. laevigatus while chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, spirotetramat and pymetrozine were harmless (IOBC category 1) to Amblyseius swirskii, and sulfoxaflor slightly harmful (IOBC category 2) to this phytoseiid predator.     

A Pragmatic Approach to Assess the Exposure of the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) When Subjected to Pesticide Spray

Plant protection spray treatments may expose non-target organisms to pesticides. In the pesticide registration procedure, the honey bee represents one of the non-target model species for which the risk posed by pesticides must be assessed on the basis of the hazard quotient (HQ). The HQ is defined as the ratio between environmental exposure and toxicity. For the honey bee, the HQ calculation is not consistent because it corresponds to the ratio between the pesticide field rate (in mass of pesticide/ha) and LD₅₀ (in mass of pesticide/bee). Thus, in contrast to all other species, the HQ can only be interpreted empirically because it corresponds to a number of bees/ha. This type of HQ calculation is due to the difficulty in transforming pesticide field rates into doses to which bees are exposed. In this study, we used a pragmatic approach to determine the apparent exposure surface area of honey bees submitted to pesticide treatments by spraying with a Potter-type tower. The doses received by the bees were quantified by very efficient chemical analyses, which enabled us to determine an apparent surface area of 1.05 cm²/bee. The apparent surface area was used to calculate the exposure levels of bees submitted to pesticide sprays and then to revisit the HQ ratios with a calculation mode similar to that used for all other living species. X-tomography was used to assess the physical surface area of a bee, which was 3.27 cm²/bee, and showed that the apparent exposure surface was not overestimated. The control experiments showed that the toxicity induced by doses calculated with the exposure surface area was similar to that induced by treatments according to the European testing procedure. This new approach to measure risk is more accurate and could become a tool to aid the decision-making process in the risk assessment of pesticides.     

Dimethoate,fenvalerate and their mixture affects Hylyphantes graminicola (Araneae: Linyphiidae) adults and their unexposed offspring

• 1 Mixtures of organophosphorus and pyrethroid insecticides are widely used to combat resistance in agricultural pests, although few studies have been conducted on the effects of pesticide mixtures on beneficial nontarget organisms.
• 2 In the present study, we exposed adult females (F₀) of Hylyphantes graminicola (Araneae: Linyphiidae) to fenvalerate, dimethoate and their commercially available 1 : 1 mixture (by mass). We investigated the acute toxicity of these pesticides to the exposed adults, as well as sublethal effects on reproduction and acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activity. We also studied the effects of parental exposure on the size, development and enzyme activity of unexposed offspring.
• 3 All three formulations were acutely toxic to H. graminicola, with synergism between dimethoate and fenvalerate leading to greater toxicity in the 1 : 1 mixture than for the two insecticides alone. The sublethal effects of direct pesticide exposure were a reduction in acetylcholinesterase and carboxylesterase activity and a reduction in the number of egg sacs produced by exposed spiders relative to the control spiders. The unexposed offspring of the fenvalerate and mixture exposed spiders were smaller and took longer to mature than the control spiders. Offspring of all exposed spiders also had significantly reduced carboxylesterase activity relative to control spiders.
• 4 We concluded that the effects of parental exposure on the offspring were likely to increase their susceptibility to future pesticide exposures, and reduce the capacity of this spider to serve as a pest control agent.

     

Efficacy of Elettaria cardamomum L. (Zingiberaceae) essential oil on the two spotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae)

Two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch is the major pest of various plants worldwide. Now the control is dependent on the use of chemical pesticides. Plant compounds are recently known as biopesticides. Essential oil of Elettaria cardamomum was researched on repellent and oviposition inhibition of T. urticae. The LC₅₀ values of fumigant toxicity of this oil on adults and eggs of the two spotted spider mite were 7.26 and 8.82?μL/L air, respectively. Also LT₅₀ value of essential oil at 45?μL/L air was 23.86?h and LT₅₀ value of essential oil at 60?μL/L air was 9.01?h. In addition, different concentrations of the essential oil of E. cardamomum significantly affected oviposition deterrence and repellency of adults. The results of this study indicated that essential oil of E. cardamomum may be considered as a biopesticide to control two spotted spider mites.     

Laboratory method for testing side-effects of pesticides on the rove beetleAleochara bilineata — Adults

Tests were conducted in glass cells containing moistened sand sprayed with the concentration recommended for the pesticide or with demineralised water (controls). Adult females (1–2 weeks old) ofA. bilineata were placed on the fresh residue in the cells and provided daily with fresh fly eggs as food. The duration of the test was 5 days, mortality being recorded every day. The side effects of the pesticide were expressed as reduction in egg production ofA. bilineata during the whole test period. Results permitted classification of the pesticides according to the 4 categories of harmfulness used by the IOBC working group. 23 pesticides were tested, and the reproducibility of the test appeared to be satisfactory. Generally, insecticides/acaricides had a pronounced effect on the beetles whereas fungicides and herbicides were less detrimental. Exceptions were the insecticides Tedion V 18 and Kilval, classified as harmless, and the fungicides Morestan, Pomarsol forte and Afugan rated as moderately harmful. Among growth regulators Prosevor 85 was highly detrimental while Cycocel Extra and Rhodofix had no effects. Excepting Morestan, Pomarsol forte and Ustinex PA the pesticides did not affect the hatching of eggs. The work was financed by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency.     

Induced expression of the class II chitinase gene during cold acclimation and dehydration of bermudagrass (Cynodon sp.)

Bermudagrass cultivars vary greatly in their ability to survive freezing temperatures as a result of a differential ability to cold acclimate (CA) at temperatures slightly above 0°C. Little information exists on the genetic and physiological mechanisms associated with the cold acclimation process in bermudagrass. Experiments were conducted to study the changes in chitinase gene expression during cold acclimation of freeze-tolerant bermudagrass cultivars. A chitinase gene (CynCHT1) was isolated from ’Midiron’ bermudagrass. Because the hydrophilic protein putatively encoded by the gene lacked an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain and a hydrophobic C-terminal extension, it was classified a class II chitinase. The expression patterns of this and related chitinase genes in response to CA, drought, and ABA were investigated in freeze-tolerant ’MSU’ (LT₅₀=?11°C), Midiron (LT₅₀=?10°C) and ’Uganda’ (LT₅₀=?8°C) bermudagrasses. Northern-blot analysis indicated expression in the crown tissues induced by CA at 8°C/2°C day/night temperature cycles. Induction of gene expression was evident in tissues sampled at 2 and 28 days after initiating CA. Expression after 2-days de-acclimation at 28°C/24°C was similar to control levels. Significantly higher levels of CA-induced chitinase gene expression were observed in MSU and Midiron, compared to Uganda. Similar expression patterns were observed among the cultivars in responses to drought and ABA. These results suggest that chitinases have important roles in bermudagrass response to low temperature and dehydration stresses.     

Effect of permethrin (pyrethroid insecticide) on the biochemical response of the freshwater amphipod Echinogammarus tacapensis (Chevreux and Gauthier, 1924)

Pyrethroids, the widely used pesticides, are highly toxic to aquatic organisms. However, little information is available on their toxicity on crustaceans. We utilized imagoes of Echinogammarus tacapensis to elucidate the effects of sublethal concentrations of permethrin. The LC50 (48, 72, and 96 h) was assessed considering several pesticide concentrations (ranging between 0.5 and 100 ng L^?1) using the Regtox package and were found to be 13.88, 8.974, and 4.259 ng L^?1, respectively. The biomarkers’ response was analyzed using animals exposed to 0.35, 0.7, and 1.4 ng/L of permethrin for 4 days. The catalase activity was significantly induced after 48 h of exposure to the three permethrin concentrations. Additionally, the glutathione S-transferase activity was increased in a concentration-dependent manner. However, exposed to C1 (0.35 ng L^?1), the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity showed no significant change compared to control values. The hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) rate was found to be similar to the SOD variation. Our findings suggest that permethrin poses a potential threat to freshwater amphipods and thus, the test species can be a useful tool for pesticide toxicity biomonitoring due to their small size, easy husbandry, short life cycle, and high fecundity.     

Using a Hazard Quotient to Evaluate Pesticide Residues Detected in Pollen Trapped from Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) in Connecticut

Analysis of pollen trapped from honey bees as they return to their hives provides a method of monitoring fluctuations in one route of pesticide exposure over location and time. We collected pollen from apiaries in five locations in Connecticut, including urban, rural, and mixed agricultural sites, for periods from two to five years. Pollen was analyzed for pesticide residues using a standard extraction method widely used for pesticides (QuEChERS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis. Sixty pesticides or metabolites were detected. Because the dose lethal to 50% of adult worker honey bees (LD₅₀) is the only toxicity parameter available for a wide range of pesticides, and among our pesticides there were contact LD₅₀ values ranging from 0.006 to >1000 μg per bee (range 166,000X), and even among insecticides LD₅₀ values ranged from 0.006 to 59.8 μg/bee (10,000X); therefore we propose that in studies of honey bee exposure to pesticides that concentrations be reported as Hazard Quotients as well as in standard concentrations such as parts per billion. We used both contact and oral LD₅₀ values to calculate Pollen Hazard Quotients (PHQ = concentration in ppb ÷ LD₅₀ as μg/bee) when both were available. In this study, pesticide Pollen Hazard Quotients ranged from over 75,000 to 0.01. The pesticides with the greatest Pollen Hazard Quotients at the maximum concentrations found in our study were (in descending order): phosmet, Imidacloprid, indoxacarb, chlorpyrifos, fipronil, thiamethoxam, azinphos-methyl, and fenthion, all with at least one Pollen Hazard Quotient (using contact or oral LD₅₀) over 500. At the maximum rate of pollen consumption by nurse bees, a Pollen Hazard Quotient of 500 would be approximately equivalent to consuming 0.5% of the LD₅₀ per day. We also present an example of a Nectar Hazard Quotient and the percentage of LD₅₀ per day at the maximum nectar consumption rate.     

Incorporating ecologically relevant measures of pesticide effect for estimating the compatibility of pesticides and biocontrol agents

The compatibility of biological control agents with pesticides is a central concern in integrated pest management programs. The most common assessments of compatibility consist of simple comparisons of acute toxicity among pest species and select biocontrol agents. A more sophisticated approach, developed by the International Organisation of Biological Control (IOBC), is based on a tiered hierarchy made up of threshold values for mortality and sublethal effects that is used to determine the compatibility of pesticides and biological control agents. However, this method is unable to capture longer term population dynamics, which is often critical to the success of biological control and pest suppression. In this article, we used the delay in population growth index, a measure of population recovery, to investigate the potential impacts that the threshold values for levels of lethal and sublethal effects developed by the IOBC had on three biocontrol agents: sevenspotted lady beetle, Coccinella septempunctata L.; the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh), and Fopius arisanus (Sonan), a parasitoid of tephritid flies. Based on life histories of these economically important natural enemies, we established a delay of 1-generation time interval as sufficient to disrupt biological control success. We found that delays equivalent to 1-generation time interval were caused by mortality as low as 50% or reductions of offspring as low as 58%, both values in line with thresholds developed by the IOBC. However, combinations of mortality and reduction of offspring lower than these values (from 32 to 43% each) over a simulated 4-mo period caused significant population delays. Furthermore, the species used in these simulations reacted differently to the same levels of effect. The parasitoid D. rapae was the most susceptible species, followed by F. arisanus and C. septempunctata. Our results indicate that it is not possible to generalize about potential long-term impacts of pesticides on biocontrol agents because susceptibility is influenced by differences in life history variables. Additionally, populations of biocontrol agents may undergo significant damage when mortality approaches 50% or when there is mortality of -30% and a 30% reduction in offspring caused by a sublethal effect. Our results suggest that more ecologically relevant measures of effect such as delays in population growth may advance our knowledge of pesticide impacts on populations of beneficial species.     

Discovery of a North American genetic variant of the entomopathogenic fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium anisopliae</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">anisopliae</Emphasis> pathogenic to grasshoppers

A genetic variant of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae, isolated from a soil in Alberta, Canada, from a location with a history of severe grasshopper infestations, was evaluated for pathogenicity in bioassays of living grasshoppers. Mortality in treated individuals drawn from a laboratory colony was 99% (LT₅₀ = 6.7 days, LT₉₀ = 9.6 days) at 12 days post-inoculation compared to 100% (LT₅₀ = 4.1 days, LT₉₀ = 5.8 days) mortality at 8 days in insects exposed to a commercial isolate of M. anisopliae var. acridum (IMI 330189). Experimental infection of field-collected grasshoppers under laboratory conditions with the native isolate of M. anisopliae var. anisopliae resulted in 100% (LT₅₀ = 4.4 days, LT₉₀ = 5.4 days) mortality attained within 7 days compared to 100% (LT₅₀ = 4.7 days, LT₉₀ = 6.3 days) mortality in 9 days in insects treated with M. anisopliae var. acridum. Amplification of fungal genomic DNA from the indigenous isolate with primers for the specific detection of M. anisopliae var. anisopliae produced a product almost 300 bp larger than expected based on previously known isolates. This is the first demonstration of a highly virulent, indigenous non-chemical control agent of grasshoppers in North America. GenBank Accession Nos. DQ342236, DQ342237.     

Survival,fecundity, and body mass of Amplicephalus curtulus influenced by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi’ (16SrV‐A) infection

The leafhopper Amplicephalus curtulus Linnavuori & DeLong (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) can transmit ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi’ (16SrV‐A) from a native Chilean shrub, Ugni molinae Turcz. (Myrtaceae), to ryegrasses. A recent study showed that this phytoplasma reduced the total protein content and the activity of detoxifying enzymes in A. curtulus, which could also affect its vector fitness. This study evaluated the effect of ‘Ca. Phytoplasma ulmi’ on the longevity, fecundity, and body mass of A. curtulus. Both females and males were exposed to ‘Ca. Phytoplasma ulmi’‐infected plants for 96 h, whereas a control group remained unexposed. Quartiles from adult emergence to 75% (t₇₅), 50% (t₅₀), and 25% (t₂₅) survival rates were determined for each leafhopper survival distribution. The dry weight was also established at the end of the experiment. The adult lifespan of phytoplasma‐infected males and females was significantly lower than that of the uninfected leafhoppers in quartile survival distributions t₅₀ and t₂₅. The phytoplasma‐infected males and females lived 3 and 4 weeks less than uninfected ones in the last quartile, respectively. Fecundity was established by number of nymphs per female (in four periods) in phytoplasma‐infected and uninfected assays. In general, the weekly pattern of the number of nymphs per phytoplasma‐infected female was lower than that of uninfected leafhoppers; it was 37% lower at the end of the experiment. Phytoplasma‐infected females weighed significantly less (11%) than uninfected individuals. Phytoplasma‐infected males weighed 8% less than uninfected ones, but this difference was not significant. Our data indicated that ‘Ca. Phytoplasma ulmi’ negatively affected the fitness of A. curtulus, and nymphs produced by phytoplasma‐infected females varied over time, which may influence the disease dynamics in nature or in field crops.     

A method to assess the effects of pesticides on the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari Phytoseiidae) in the laboratory

Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot (Acari Phytoseiidae) is a major predator of Tetranychus urticae (Acari Tetranychidae). The performance of P. persimilis in controlling T. urticae may be altered by pesticides used to manage other pests. Therefore, knowledge of the side-effects of pesticides is essential for IPM. A number of laboratory methods were suggested to evaluate pesticide side-effects on predatory mites. Most methods assess residual effects only, and a number of them are characterised by high predator escape rates from experimental units. A method aimed at evaluating the topical and residual effects of pesticides on P. persimilis is herein described. Mites were treated by microimmersion and then reared in holding cells, on bean leaves previously dipped in a pesticide solution. Three insecticides (pyrethrins, spinosad and thiamethoxam), an insecticide-acaricide (abamectin), and two fungicides (azoxystrobin and tolylfluanide) were evaluated. The strain of P. persimilis used for evaluation was collected from unsprayed vegetable plants. All the pesticides affected the survival and fecundity of P. persimilis. Pesticides did not affect the egg-hatching of P. persimilis females exposed to pesticides. Pyrethrins and abamectin proved to be more toxic than other pesticides, and thiamethoxam was more toxic than spinosad, azoxystrobin and tolylfluanide. The escape rate from experimental units was lower than 5% in all trials. Additional experiments were performed on P. persimilis eggs by dipping leaves with eggs in the pesticide solution. None of the pesticides affected egg survival. Semi-field trials conducted on potted bean plants obtained results similar to those reported in laboratory trials.     

The potential efficacy and application of freshwater and hypersaline immersion to control the spread of a marine invasive species

Introduced into New Zealand waters in 2008, the polychaete worm Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791) is a marine invasive species with potential for significant ecological and economic impact. Within New Zealand, efforts to cope with this pest have focused on containment as efficacious control methods are in their infancy. To remedy this, we tested the efficacy of hyper-saline (50‰) and hypo-saline (0‰) baths as a potential control method for this species. Specimens of S. spallanzanii were collected from within the Auckland region and exposed to salinity treatments for up to 1440 min (24 h) and mortality rates were compared using LT₅₀ i.e. number of minutes taken for 50% of worms to die. Specimens subjected to hypo-saline conditions resulted in an LT₅₀ of 31.0 min compared to 132.0 min for hyper-saline conditions. Accordingly, hypo-saline dips have potential as an environmentally safe and cost-effective management method for maintenance of recreational vessels and other marine structures (e.g. aquaculture gear and shellfish stocks) that are heavily fouled with S. spallanzanii.     

Biological monitoring of exposure to pesticide residues among Belgian florists

Abstract

Many pesticides applied in cut flowers can be readily absorbed through the skin of florists during preparing bouquets and handling contaminated flowers. A study was conducted among volunteer Belgian florists in order to assess their total exposure by measuring concentrations of pesticides (parent compounds and metabolites) in their urines. A total of 42 urine samples (24-h urines) were collected from florists during their professional activities, on the three most important commercial periods. The concentrations of pesticide residues and metabolites in urine samples were analyzed with a multiresidue liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method, after an ethyl acetate extraction. The results are compared with those of a control group of 42 subjects not occupationally exposed to pesticides, collected in the same periods. A total of 70 residues (56 pesticides and 14 metabolites) were identified, with an average of about eight pesticide residues and metabolites per florist’s urine sample and an average total concentration per sample of 4.3 µg/g creatinine, ranging from 0.2 to 67 µg/g creatinine. Significantly higher urinary excretion of metabolites (t-test) was found in florists than in control group. These results demonstrate that Belgian florists are exposed daily to pesticide residues with a potential effect on their health.     

Larvicidal activity of spinosad and its impact on oviposition preferences of the West Nile vector Culex pipiens biotype molestus – A comparison with a chitin synthesis inhibitor

In the present study, the larvicidal activity of ageing aqueous suspensions of spinosad against larvae of Culex pipiens biotype molestus, as well as their effect on the oviposition preferences of adult gravid females were evaluated in laboratory bioassays. Spinosad was applied at its label dose and the aqueous stock suspensions were stored for various ageing intervals up to 38 days. Untreated distilled water and diflubenzuron served as negative and positive control, respectively. Stock suspensions were taken after 0, 2, 6, 8, 16, 30 and 38 days of storage for diflubenzuron and after 0, 2, 6, 8, 20 and 27 days for spinosad, and were used for the bioassays. Furthermore, the effect of spinosad on the oviposition response of Cx. p. biotype molestus gravid females was investigated in two-choice oviposition preference bioassays. Spinosad was evaluated at half of its label dose and at its label dose, whereas diflubenzuron and distilled water served as positive and negative control, respectively. Results showed that both insecticides were found highly effective for the control of Cx. p. biotype molestus larvae, for ageing intervals up to 27 and 38 days for spinosad and diflubenzuron, respectively. Spinosad acted immediately after the preparation of the insecticidal solution (LT₅₀ = 1.5 h), whereas for aged samples, LT₅₀ values increased with the increase of the ageing interval (LT₅₀ = 5 days for the 27 days old sample). For diflubenzuron, ageing time increased its insecticidal activity, as for aged diflubenzuron-treated solutions, lower LT₅₀ values were achieved. In the oviposition preference bioassays, significantly fewer egg rafts were laid in water treated with spinosad at its label dose compared to control. However, this was not the case for water treated with spinosad at half of its label dose. Oviposition Activity Index (OAI) values were always comprised between −0.3 and 0.3, showing no relevant oviposition deterrence or attraction. The results of the present study contribute to our understanding of the effect of ageing on insecticidal solutions widely used in urban areas to control Cx. p. biotype molestus. Although an important vector of high public health importance, Cx. p. biotype molestus has been scarcely studied as target of environmentally and toxicologically reduced risk insecticides, such as spinosad.     

Drought increases the freezing resistance of high-elevation plants of the Central Chilean Andes

Freezing temperatures and summer droughts shape plant life in Mediterranean high-elevation habitats. Thus, the impacts of climate change on plant survival for these species could be quite different to those from mesic mountains. We exposed 12 alpine species to experimental irrigation and warming in the Central Chilean Andes to assess whether irrigation decreases freezing resistance, irrigation influences freezing resistance when plants are exposed to warming, and to assess the relative importance of irrigation and temperature in controlling plant freezing resistance. Freezing resistance was determined as the freezing temperature that produced 50 % photoinactivation [lethal temperature (LT₅₀)] and the freezing point (FP). In seven out of 12 high-Andean species, LT₅₀ of drought-exposed plants was on average 3.5 K lower than that of irrigated plants. In contrast, most species did not show differences in FP. Warming changed the effect of irrigation on LT₅₀. Depending on species, warming was found to have (1) no effect, (2) to increase, or (3) to decrease the irrigation effect on LT₅₀. However, the effect size of irrigation on LT₅₀ was greater than that of warming for almost all species. The effect of irrigation on FP was slightly changed by warming and was sometimes in disagreement with LT₅₀ responses. Our data show that drought increases the freezing resistance of high-Andean plant species as a general plant response. Although freezing resistance increases depended on species-specific traits, our results show that warmer and moister growing seasons due to climate change will seriously threaten plant survival and persistence of these and other alpine species in dry mountains.     

Sublethal effects of imidacloprid exposure on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spalangia endius</Emphasis>, a pupal parasitoid of filth flies

Parasitoids and neonicotinoids can both suppress economically harmful filth fly populations. However, sublethal effects of neonicotinoids have not previously been studied for commonly used species of filth fly parasitoids. Exposure to an LC₅₀ of imidacloprid decreased the ability of surviving individuals of the parasitoid wasp Spalangia endius Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) to kill house fly pupae under some conditions. In an unburied-hosts experiment, significantly more flies and fewer parasitoids emerged in the LC₅₀ imidacloprid treatment versus the LC₁₀ or controls. Parasitoid sex ratio and longevity were not affected. However, in a buried-hosts experiment, parasitoid and fly emergence were independent of treatment. ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) showed lower imidacloprid residues in or on parasitoids exposed to the media in which hosts were buried. Our findings suggest that substrate may reduce pesticides on biological control agents that burrow, making them more effective.     

Effects of abamectin and deltamethrin to the foragers honeybee workers of Apis mellifera jemenatica (Hymenoptera: Apidae) under laboratory conditions

This study aimed at evaluating the toxicity of some insecticides (abamectin and deltamethrin) on the lethal time (LT₅₀) and midgut of foragers honeybee workers of Apis mellifera jemenatica were studied under laboratory conditions. The bees were provided with water, food, natural protein and sugar solution with insecticide (concentration: 2.50 ppm deltamethrin and 0.1 ppm abamectin). The control group was not treated with any kind of insecticides. The mortality was assessed at 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hour (h) after insecticides treatment and period to calculate the value of lethal time (LT₅₀). But the samples the histology study of midgut collected after 24 h were conducted by Scanning Electron Microscope. The results showed the effects of insecticides on the current results show that abamectin has an adverse effect on honeybees, there is a clear impact on the lethal time (LT₅₀) was the abamectin faster in the death of honeybee workers compared to deltamethrin. Where have reached to abamectin (LT₅₀ = 21.026) h, deltamethrin (LT₅₀ = 72.011) h. However, abamectin also effects on cytotoxic midgut cells that may cause digestive disorders in the midgut, epithelial tissue is formed during morphological alterations when digestive cells die. The extends into the internal cavity, and at the top, there is epithelial cell striated border that has many holes and curves, abamectin seems to have crushed the layers of muscle. Through the current results can say abamectin most toxicity on honeybees colony health and vitality, especially foragers honeybee workers.