Lethal effects of four insecticides on immature stages of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) in laboratory conditions

The present study revealed that fecundity of tobacco aphid, Myzus nicotianae Blackman was highest on Lanka type (37.8 ± 7.5) and lowest on Nicotiana rustica (7.0±2.5). Chrysoperla carnea consumed 71.20 aphids/larva on Flue cured Virginia tobacco and 58 aphids on Burley type. Highest per cent pupation was observed on Beedi type (88%). Fecundity of Chrysoperla was the highest when it fed on aphids on cigar wrapper tobacco (291 eggs/female), followed by Lanka (287 eggs/female). The fecundity was lowest (114 eggs) when aphids on aromatic tobacco were consumed. Fecundity when fed on Corcyra eggs was least (220 eggs). FCV tobacco was most favored for oviposition by Chrysoperla (25 eggs/plant) and beedi and aromatic types were least preferred. On all tobacco types, when the larvae of the predator were released 63 to 92% reduction in aphid population was achieved. The nutritional profile of the aphids on the most favored tobacco type, Lanka , revealed that sugars and proteins/100g dry weight of aphids were 3.6 and 7.20 compared to 2.88 and 6,20, respectively, on aphids on aromatic types, which were less suitable as food. Prospects of utilizing host plant genetic diversity in tritrophic interactions for effective management of sucking pests are discussed.

In this study, natural mortality factors of Citrus Leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) were investigated under field conditions. The studies were carried out in a lemon orchard in Adana, Turkey during 2007-2008. Ten trees were selected and weekly one shoot from each tree, and a total of ten shoots, were collected randomly during May-November. In the laboratory, the first 15 leaves were checked using a binocular microscope. All biological stages of the pest and the parasitoids, dead or infected individuals, and empty mines, were counted. According to the method and symptoms of predation, the mortality factors of the pest were recorded. In 2007 and 2008, large numbers of larvae were parasitized (46.25% and 48.12%, respectively). The larval parasitoid Citrostichus phyllocnistoides Narayanan (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) was the abundant species in both years. The third instar of the host had the highest percent of parasitized individuals. In the first year, 15.33% of the pest were consumed by spiders, 10.07% by Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and 3.14% by ants, whereas in the second year these ratios were 16.61%, 8.57% and 3.78%, respectively. Second instar larvae were the most preferred stage for predation. In 2007, in 13.66% of the mines no pests were recorded, whereas the mortality source of 5.19% of the larvae and pupae was not detected. In 2008, these ratios were 10.21% and 6.87%, respectively. It was determined that predators are as effective as the parasitoids in the biological control of the pest.

The common pistachio psylla, <em>Agonoscena pistaciae</em> Burckhardt and Lauterer (Hem.: Aphalaridae), is one of the most important pests of pistachio orchards in Iran. Green lacewing, <em>Chrysoperlacarnea,</em> as a general predator found abundantly in Iranian pistachio gardens, loses its performance under the impression of pesticides spraying. Nowadays, considering environmental pollutions, human health and the importance of healthy and organic nutrition, extensive researches are carried out around the world in order to replace the synthetic products with plant materials. In this study, the mortality effect of two ethanol extracts of <em>Tribulus terrestris</em> and <em>Tagetes erecta</em> and two essential oils of <em>Mentha pulegium</em> and <em>Rosmarinus officinalis</em> were studied on <em>A. pistaciae</em> and its natural enemy <em>C. carnea</em>. The results showed that, although essential oils do not have appreciable effect on mortality of this psylla, but the extracts have high mortality potential on psylla nymphs, especially on N1 nymphs and the low influence on 1-2 days green lacewing larvae. The plant extracts and essential oils have not effect on 5-6 days green lacewing larvae. The results show that the plant derived chemicals and ethanol have not negative effect on hatching rate of the natural enemy. Among these treatments, <em>R. officinalis</em> essential oil has negative effect on eggs hatching rate, so its use is not recommended. Therefore with no impact of plant material on natural enemies, we can use green lacewing and herbal extracts in integrated pest control.

The pests and the natural enemies were determined on protected eggplant in 1997 in Izmir province of Turkiye. Tetranychus urticae Koch. (Acarina:Tetranychidae), and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hom.:Aphididae) were found to be the major pests. Bemisia tabaci Gern (Hom.:Aleyrodidae), Asymmetrasca decedens Paoli, Empoasca decipiens Paoli (Hom.:Cicadellidae), Trips tabaci Lindeman and Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thy.:Thripidae), Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach) (Dip.:Agromyzidae) were found to be the secondary pests. Eristalodes taeniops Wiedeman (Dip.:Syrphidae) and Epitrix hirtipennis (Melsh) (Col.:Chrysomelidae) were found very rarely on protected eggplant. Natural enemies suppressed the secondary pests if there was no disturbance of the natural balance. L. bryoniae were suppressed by the larval parasitoids, Diglyphus isaea ( Walker) (Hym.:Eulophidae). The parasitoid of M. persicae , Diaretiella rapae (M'inst) , parasited M. persicae in the early vegetation. However, after the predators were seen in the plastic tunnels, the parasitism was not recorded. Propylea quotuordecimpunctata (Goeze) and Adonia variegata (Goeze) (Col.:Coccinellidae); Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) (Neur.: Chrysopidae); Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.) (Dip.:Cecidomyiidae); Sphaerophoria scripta (L.) (Dip.:Syrphidae) were effective on M.persicae population. Stethorus gilvifrons (Muls), Scymnus rubromaculatus (Goeze), S.apetzi Mulsant, S.interruptus (Goeze), S. frontalis (Fabricius) (Col.:Coccinellidae); C.carnea ; Deraeocoris serenus D.Sc., Orius niger (W.) (Het.:Miridae) were effective on T.urticea population. O.niger and Aelothrips collaris Priesner (Thy.:Thripidae) were effective on T.tabaci and F.occidentalis populations. Macrolophus caliginosus (Wgn.) (Het.:Miridae) were effective on whitefly population. O.niger, C.carnea were effective on Cicadellidae species.

The pests and the natural enemies were determined on the protected pepper in 1997 in the Izmir province of Turkiye. Spidermite [ Tetranychus urticae Koch. (Acar-ina:Tetranychidae)], aphids [ Aphis gossypii Glover, Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hom.: Aphididae)], whiteflies [ Bemisia tabaci Gern and Trialeurodes vaporariorum Westw. (Hom.:Aleyrodidae)], leafhoppers [ Asymmetrasca decedens (Paoli), Empoasca decipiens Paoli (Hom.:Cicadellidae)], thrips [ Haplothrips distingundus Uzel (Thys.:Thripidae)] andleafminers [ Liriomyza bryoniae (Kaltenbach) L.trifolii (Burges), L.huidobrensis Blanchard (Dip.:Agromyzidae)] were found to be the pests on the protected pepper. Aphid and leafminers densities were reach to the maximum at the beginning of the season. Whiteflies, spidermite and leaf hoppers were high in densities towards the end of the season. The population density of H.distingundus are high at the middle of the season. There was no treatment against any pests in the plastic tunnels. Therefore the beneficial were conserved and their populations increased at the begining of the season and suppressed the pest populations. Leafminerswere suppressed by the larval parasitoids, Diglyphus isaea (Walker)(Hym.:Eulophidae). The parasited aphids[( Diaretiella rapae (M'inst) Lysiphlebus fabarum Marshall, Aphidius matricariae Hal., Trioxys angelicae (Hal.) (Hym.:Aphidiidae)] were seen in the early vegetation. After the predators were seen in the plastic tunnels, the parasitism weren't recorded in the aphid population. Propylea quotuordecimpunctata (Goeze), Adonia variegata (Goeze)(Col.:Coccinellidae), Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.) (Neur.:Chrysopidae), Aphidoletes aphidimyza (Rond.)(Dip.:Cecidomyiidae), Sphaero-phoria scripta (L.)(Dip.:Syrphidae) were effective on aphid population. Stethorus gilvifrons (Muls.), Scymnus rubromaculatus (Goeze), S.apetzi Mulsant, S.interruptus (Goeze), S.frontalis (Fabricius)(Col.:Coccinellidae), C.carnea , Scolothrips longicornis Priesner (Thys.:Thripidae) were effective on spidermite population. Macrolophus caliginosus (Wgn.) (Het.:Miridae) were effective on whiteflies population.

Formation of ecologically adapted systems for plant protection against harmful organisms is impossible without the pesticides risk evaluation to benefi cial arthropods. Currently garden protection arsenal has a suffi cient set of environmentally friendly pest control agents. Inclusion of these agents in the control program can help to achieve a cumulative effect of protection measures and biological regulation of herbivores number by natural regulatory mechanisms. For this purpose laboratory and fi eld research of infl uence of biological and modern preparations for useful entomofauna of garden were conducted. Representatives of ladybirds (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae), lacewings (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae), Syrphidae fl ies (Diptera), bugs Anthocoridae, Miridae, Nabidae (Hemiptera), Aphidiidae (Hymenoptera), spiders (Araneae) were found on the experimental plots in the garden, lacewing (Chrysopidae), ladybugs (Coccinellidae) and bugs (Nabidae) prevailed. Miridae larvae were used as the test objects in the laboratory as well as larvae and adults Coccinellidae taken from laboratory populations. Field studies have shown that preparations Gerold, Prokleym and Lepidocide did not depress the development of natural garden entomophags – lacewings, predatory bugs Nabidae and Coccinellidae. To determine danger degree of the studied insecticides for entomophags in the garden the following scale was used: low hazard insecticides – the number entomophags reached its level of control within 7 days after treatment; moderately dangerous – in 7-14 days; dangerous – after 15-21 days; extremely dangerous – more than 21 days. According to the laboratory tests results studied preparations (Gerold, Bitoksibatsillin, Lepidocide and Batsikol) were classifi ed as non-hazardous or low-hazard for Coccinellidae and miridae bugs. Key wo

In order to find out a better and cheaper artificial diet for mass rearing of common green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea, an experiment was conducted using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 replications and 5 observations. In this study were used three diets [a mixture of honey, yeast and distilled water (1:1:1), a mixture of honey, yeast plus extract of Angomois grain moth eggs (1:1:1) and a mixture of honey, yeast plus extract of Mediterranean flour moth eggs (1:1:1)]. Experiments were run at 14L:10D, 25±2 oC and 60±5% RH on 7th generation adults. The effect of different diets was studied on biological parameters such as pre-oviposition, oviposition and post-oviposition periods, longevity of male and female, fecundity, average weight of one egg and egg hatchability. Results revealed that the mixture of honey, yeast and extract of Mediterranean flour moth eggs (1:1:1) showed the minimum pre-oviposition period (6.66±0.49 days) and longest oviposition period (28.57±1.09 days), longevity of male (45.73±0.89 days) and female (37.73±0.59 days), highest fecundity (795.0±23.05 eggs per female) and egg hatchability (84.98±2.82 %). Also the average weight of one egg laied by females fed on this diet obtained 0.069±0.00 mg that didn’t show significant difference (P≤0.05) with maximum observed amount (0.070±0.00 mg). So it is clear that the diet contains honey, yeast and extract of Mediterranean flour moth eggs is the best. Keywords: Green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea, Food supplement, Angomois grain moth, Mediterranean flour moth

Seven spot ladybird beetle, (Coccinella septempunctata) is a widely distributed natural enemy of soft-bodied insect pests especially aphids worldwide. Both the adult and larvae of this coccinellid beetle are voracious feeders and serve as a commercially available biological control agent around the globe. Different techniques are adopted to enhance the mass rearing and storage of this natural enemy by taking advantage of its natural ability to withstand under extremely low temperatures and entering diapause under unfavorable low temperature conditions. The key objective of this study was to develop a cost effective technique for enhancing the storage life and predatory potential of the larvae of C. septempunctata through cold storage in conjunction with the use of nuclear techniques, gamma radiations. Results showed that the host eating potential of larvae was enhanced as the cold storage duration was increased. Gamma irradiation further enhanced the feeding potential of larvae that were kept under cold storage. Different irradiation doses also affected the development time of C. septempuntata larvae significantly. Without cold storage, the lower radiation doses (10 and 25 GY) prolonged the developmental time as compared to un-irradiated larvae. Furthermore, the higher dose of radiation (50GY) increased the developmental time after removal from cold storage. This study first time paves the way to use radiation in conjunction with cold storage as an effective technique in implementation of different biological control approaches as a part of any IPM programs

The selectivity of Mak All Season Horticultural Mineral Oil (MAS-HMO) at different doses (0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2.0% , 2.5%) and imidacloprid @ 0.009% was studied against Mallada desjardinsi (Navas) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), important predators of sucking pests of citrus in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, under laboratory conditions during 2009, 2010 and 2011. Of the different doses tested, MAS-HMO @ 0.1%, 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% recorded significantly high mean egg hatchability (100%) of M. desjardinsi whereas imidacloprid @ 0.009 % recorded significantly low mean egg hatchability (67.2%). Mean grub mortality of M. desjardinsi was significantly low (0%) in doses 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0% MAS-HMO. However, imidacloprid @ 0.009 % recorded significantly high mean grub mortality (52.2%) of M. desjardinsi whereas, adult mortality was nil in all the doses of MAS-HMO tested. MAS-HMO @ 0.1 %, 0.5% and 1.0% was found safe to the grubs of C. sexmaculata as mortality of the treated grubs was nil. Imidacloprid @ 0.009% recorded significantly high mean grub mortality (41.1%) of C. sexmaculata.

Opius caricivorae Fischer is an important species of native parasitoid of leafminer Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) in Taiwan. In this study, seedlings of field beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. communis Aeschers) treated with insecticides (oxamyl SL, abamectin EC, cyromazine SL, or cyromazine WP) were used to determine effect of insecticides on survival and fertility of leafminer (L. huidobrensis) and its parasitoid (O. caricivorae) at different development stages under laboratory conditions. Results showed that all the insecticides (oxamyl, abamectin, cyromazine SL and cyromazine WP) had significant (P ＜ 0.05) lethal effects on L. huidobrensis and could be used in the control of leafminer. The highest lethal effect of oxamyl and abamectin was at the egg and larval stages with a survival rate of 0%, and the second most effective period was at the adult stage. When adult flies were treated with either oxamyl or abamectin for 24 hours, the female survival rate, male survival rate, number of eggs and number of feeding stipples decreased by 25.1-27.1, 38.8-40.5, 90.3-98.6 and 94.6-99.2%, respectively. The female longevity, male longevity, adult progeny and number of feeding stipples after treatment for 24 hours also decreased by 50.8-67.8, 59.8-71.7, 88.1-93.3 and 84.3-93.9%, respectively. The highest lethal effect of the two cyromazine formulations was at the larval stage with a survival rate of 0% and the second most effective period was at the adult stage. Treatment of adult flies with each of the two cyromazine formulations for 24 hours resulted in no significant reduction in female survival rate, male survival rate, number of eggs, and feeding stipples. However, both formulations reduced female longevity, male longevity, adult progeny and number of feeding stipples after treatment for 24 hours by 26.0-26.6, 39.4-43.3, 85.1-89.6 and 83.9-86.2%, respectively. The two cyromazine formulations had least effect on the egg stage of L. huidobrensis with 23.7-25.7% reduction of egg hatching rate and larval mortality rate of 45.5-49.8% for the 1st instar and 100% for the 2nd instar. All the insecticides had no lethal effect on the egg stage of the parasitoid O. caricivora, but they were lethal on larval to pupal stages of this wasp with a survival rate of 0%. Abamectin was the most toxic insecticide on the wasp among the insecticides tested. When adult wasps were treated with insecticide for 24 hours, the survival rates of female and male decreased 90.0% and 46.7%, respectively, for the treatment of abamectin; the survival rate of female decreased 21.4% for the treatment of oxamyl. The percentage of hosts (L. huidobrensis) killed by the combined treatment of insecticide and wasps was 100%, compared to 64.8% killed by the treatment of wasps alone. After the adult wasps were treated with either abamectin or oxamyl, the number of eggs and progeny of adult wasps decreased by 67.7-86.2% and 100%, respectively, compared to the decrease of 0% in number of eggs and 100% of progeny of adult wasps by the treatment of cyromazine. When adult wasps were treated with each of the three insecticides for 24 hours and released on untreated bean seedlings infested with hosts (L. huidobrensis) daily, abamectin caused a reduction in longevity of female and male wasps by 80.7% and 59.0%, and fertility of wasps by 100%. However, no effect was observed on longevity, fertility, and female proportion of wasps when oxamyl and two formulations of cyromazie were used. For the direct and sublethal effects of insecticides on L. huidobrensis and O. caricivorae, cyromazine either in SL (solution liquid) or WP (wettable powder) is highly toxic to leafminer but is least toxic to wasps (O. caricivorae) and, therefore, combined application of cyromazine and wasps in the control program of L. huidobrensis is commended.

This study was carried out to determine natural enemies of Depressaria cf. daucivorella Rag. (Lep.: Oecophoridae), on anise and the parasitism rates of parasitoids in 1996 to 1997 in Burdur province of Turkiye. During the study, Copidosoma (= Litomastix ) phalaenarum Thomson, Copidosoma sp. nr. cervius Wlk. (Hym.:Chalcidoidea), Bracon hebetor Say., Agathis umbellatarum Nees (Hym.:Braconidae), Sinophorus geniculatus Grav. (Hym.:Ichneumonidae), Pseudoperichaeta palesoidea (R.-D.) and Nemorilla floralis (Fall.) (Dip.:Tachinidae) as parasitoids; Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neur.: Chrysopidae) and Nabis punctata Costa. (Het.:Nabidae) as predators in total nine natural enemies of D.daucivorella were determined. The overall parasitization rates of these parasitoids were changed between 13.3-63.16%.

Sown wildflower strips are increasingly established within agri-environmental schemes in Europe and worldwide. Their goals include the promotion of biodiversity, pest control or pollination services. Here, we tested whether a new type of flower strip targeted to promote natural enemies controlling aphids and other wheat pests are more effective in achieving this goal than an already implemented wildflower strip type aimed at biodiversity conservation. We found two to five times higher numbers of key aphid antagonists, Syrphidae, Coccinellidae and Chrysoperla carnea (Chrysopidae), in the targeted flower strip compared to wildflower strips designed for biodiversity conservation. The targeted use of flowering plants, providing fundamental resources for natural enemies of crop pests, might significantly contribute to an efficient integrated pest management.Key (Less)

Influence of transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis corn-fed prey on prey preference of immature Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae)

Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an ectoparasitoid that is used for inundative biological control of various lepidopteran insect pests. Lethal and sublethal effects of two biorational insecticides, methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl, were evaluated on H. hebetor under laboratory conditions. The adults were exposed to dry insecticide residues that were applied on glass plates. Bioassays showed that the LC50 values of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl were 155 and 1,226 μg a.i./ml, respectively. The LT50 values of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl were 2.1 and 3.3 days, respectively. The effects of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl on larvae were tested using a dip method with field-recommended concentrations of either insecticide. The emergence rates were reduced by 24.4 and 29.3 % for methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl treatments, respectively. In order to assess the sublethal effects of low-lethal concentrations of methoxyfenozide and pyridalyl, adult wasps were exposed to the LC30 concentration of each insecticide, and demographic parameters of live wasps were recorded. Exposure of adults to low-lethal concentrations (LC30) negatively affected the fecundity, fertility, and sex ratio, and also the intrinsic rate of increase (rm), finite rate of increase (λ), generation time (T), and doubling time (DT). The longevity and net reproductive rate (R0) of H. hebetor were not affected by sublethal exposure to these insecticides. The results showed that despite low acute toxicities of both insecticides on larval and adult stages of H. hebetor, they may negatively affect the population of the parasitoid and interfere in IPM programs.

Four bioagents, viz., Coccinella septempunctata L., Menochilus sexmaculatus (F.), Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) and Verticillium lecanii (Zimmerman), were evaluated against mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi (Kaltenbach), on single plants covered with muslin cloth in the field at National Research Centre on Rapeseed-Mustard, Sewar, Bharatpur (Rajasthan) during 2005-06 and 2006-07. C. septempunctata @ two adults/plant was found to be the most effective, reducing 96.19% of the aphid population in 10 days followed by C. septempunctata @ two larvae per plant (93.42%), V. lecanii @ 108 spores-ml (84.90%), M. sexmaculatus @ two adults (84.62%) and C. carnea @ four larvae-plant (82.98%). C. septempunctata @ one adult per plant reduced the aphid population by 77.49% and M. sexmaculatus by 69.08%.