Effects of Spinosad, Imidacloprid, and Lambda-cyhalothrin on Survival, Parasitism, and Reproduction of the Aphid Parasitoid Aphidius colemani

J Econ Entomol. 2018 May 28;111(3):1096-1103. doi: 10.1093/jee/toy055.

Abstract

Insecticides can affect biological control by parasitoids. Here, we examined the lethal and sublethal effects of two conventional insecticides, imidacloprid and lambda-cyhalothrin, and a reduced-risk bioinsecticide, spinosad, on the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Concentration-mortality curves generated from insecticide residue bioassays found that wasps were nearly 20-fold more susceptible to spinosad than imidacloprid and lambda-cyhalothrin. Imidacloprid and lambda-cyhalothrin compromised adult parasitoid longevity, but not as dramatically as spinosad: concentrations >200 ng spinosad/cm2 reduced wasp longevity by half. Imidacloprid and lambda-cyhalothrin also compromised aphid parasitism by wasps. Although increasing imidacloprid concentrations led to increased host viability and reduced progeny production, lambda-cyhalothrin did not affect viability of parasitized hosts or parasitoid progeny production in a dose-dependent manner. Our results demonstrate that reduced risk bioinsecticide products like spinosad can be more toxic to biological control agents than certain conventional insecticides.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aphids / parasitology
  • Drug Combinations
  • Host-Parasite Interactions / drug effects*
  • Insecticides / toxicity*
  • Longevity / drug effects
  • Macrolides / toxicity*
  • Neonicotinoids / toxicity*
  • Nitriles / toxicity*
  • Nitro Compounds / toxicity*
  • Pest Control, Biological
  • Pyrethrins / toxicity*
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Wasps / drug effects*
  • Wasps / growth & development
  • Wasps / physiology

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Insecticides
  • Macrolides
  • Neonicotinoids
  • Nitriles
  • Nitro Compounds
  • Pyrethrins
  • imidacloprid
  • cyhalothrin
  • spinosad