Abstract

Simple SummaryBiological control can be used as an alternative control measure to reduce pesticide resistance. Unfortunately, many biological control agents, such as natural enemies of pests, are susceptible to a broad spectrum of pesticides. This creates a potential problem when these two components are utilized together. Therefore, it is necessary to find alternatives that are not harmful to natural enemies but also have the potential to replace synthetic pesticides. Essential oils (EOs) are widely used in crop protection and organic agriculture. The EO formulations evaluated in this study are new botanical pesticides that play an important role in agriculture. EOs are available as an alternative to synthetic pesticides. Two blends (Fungatol and Gamma-T-ol) are mostly composed of Alpha Tops, and Gamma Tops were assessed for their effects on the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani in laboratory and glasshouse trials. According to the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) classification, they were found to be safe or only slightly toxic, making them potential candidates for introduction into an integrated pest control program for aphids.Beneficial insects play a major role in controlling pest populations. In sustainable agricultural production systems, control methods compatible with integrated pest management (IPM) are preferred over broad-spectrum pesticides. EOs from aromatic plants may provide a new and safe alternative to synthetic chemicals. In this research, the efficacy of Fungatol, Gamma-T-ol, Fungatol plus neem, and Gamma-T-ol plus neem was evaluated against Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae; Aphidiidae), the parasitoid of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Under laboratory and greenhouse conditions, five different concentrations of each formulation were applied to parasitized mummies and adult parasitoids. Results for parasitoid emergence from aphid mummies sprayed with different concentrations of Fungatol, Gamma-T-ol, Fungatol plus neem, and Gamma-T-ol plus neem in the laboratory and glasshouse showed that the formulations did not adversely affect adult emergence as rates above 60% were observed. For residual toxicity tests done by exposing adult parasitoids to a fresh, dry biopesticide film sprayed on glass plates, less than 20% mortality was observed after 48 h of exposure. Adult longevity tests revealed that the highest concentrations of some of the formulations evaluated were slightly toxic to A. colemani. According to the IOBC rating, our results indicated that most of the tested concentrations for each formulation were harmless to A. colemani. Based on the above results, it may be proposed that the formulations evaluated in this study are potential botanical pesticide candidates for incorporation into an IPM program.

Highlights

  • Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae) are important biological controls, effective in reducing populations of aphid species worldwide [1,2,3]

  • Glover and Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) [6]. It is commercially available for the biological control of aphids [7,8]

  • The goals of this study were to assess the effects of Fungatol and Gamma-T-ol, as well as the combination effects of these two blends with neem oil, on the emergence of A. colemani from treated aphid mummies in the laboratory and glasshouse, and to assess the pesticide residues’ effects on adult parasitoids’ survival and longevity in laboratory conditions

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Summary

Introduction

Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae) are important biological controls, effective in reducing populations of aphid species worldwide [1,2,3]. Aphidiinae members are obligatory, primary endoparasitoids of adult aphids [4,5]. In Australia, twenty-one species have been reported [4]. An important species is Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae; Aphidiidae), a pan-tropical species of parasitoid, widely distributed in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, and Southern Europe, that parasitizes several species of Aphididae, including Aphis gossypii. Glover and Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) [6]. It is commercially available for the biological control of aphids [7,8]

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