Impact of two synthetic pyrethroids and methomyl on management of the cabbage aphid, brevicoryne brassicae (L.) and its associated parasitoid, diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh)

Abstract

AbstractThe effectiveness of two synthetic pyrethroids, cypermethrin and fenvalerate, and of methomyl applied to cabbage plants was tested against the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.), and its parasitoid, Diaeretiella rapae (M'Intosh). Dosage rates chosen were equivalent to the manufacturer's maximum and minimum recommendations. Methomyl was considerably more toxic to B. brassicae adults than the two synthetic pyrethroids used. Fenvalerate, at the lowest rate used (71 g ha−1), showed satisfactory effectiveness in reducing aphid adult population on treated plants by c. 77% below that of the control. All insecticides and rates used significantly reduced the emergence of parasitoid adult D. rapae from mummified aphids compared to the control. Fenvalerate clearly had less impact on emergence than cypermethrin or methomyl at any dosage used, while methomyl has appeared to be the most toxic compound in this respect. Longevity of parasitoid adults was highly affected by insecticide application, particularly those adults emerging from mummified aphids exposed to methomyl or cypermethrin. However, only a slight difference in longevity was seen at the lower rate of 71 g ha−1 of fenvalerate. At the lowest dosage rates used, methomyl and cypermethrin reduced the F1‐progeny of adult parasitoid females by 70.5% and 58.3%, respectively, of the control, whereas fenvalerate reduced the progeny by only 36.4%.