Lindane and Fenitrothion Reduce Soil and Litter Mesofauna on Piedmont and Appalachian Sites

Abstract

Lindane applied to pines as an aqueous 0.5% spray for control of the southern pine beetle, Dendroctonus frontalis Zimmermann, caused long-term reductions in litter and soil mesofaunal populations in the mountains of North Carolina. Mites, collembolans, and other arthropod fauna did not return to pretreatment numbers for at least 2 yr, and soil mesofauna remained below initial populations even after 963 d. Although lindane remained in the litter and soil for about 3 yr, it did not move downslope in quantities that threatened water quality. In the Piedmont, aqueous 0.5% lindane and 2.0% fenitrothion were applied directly to the forest floor. Although initial fenitrothion residues were 7.5 times greater than those of lindane, the transient nature of these residues and reduced effects on mites and collembolans indicate it has a shorter-term effect on soil and litter fauna.