Insecticide Residues Research Articles

Regional selection of insecticides and fungal biopesticides to control aphids and thrips and improve the forage quality of alfalfa crops

The efficacies of biological and conventional chemical insecticides against two major insect pests of alfalfa (aphids and thrips) were compared in three sites across China’s alfalfa belt. In addition, the persistence of the residues of chemical insecticides in alfalfa and their influence on the quality of alfalfa hay were examined. Efficacy varied among the different biological and chemical insecticides. The chemical insecticides were significantly more effective than biopesticides in a short time-frame. The efficacy period of biopesticides was significantly longer than that of chemical insecticides, and the corrected mortality rate of aphids in all regions was above 50% at 14 days after application. The analysis of pesticide residues showed that the residual doses of all the pesticides were within the allowed ranges after the safe period. The acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber contents in alfalfa hay were higher and the protein content was lower in chemical insecticide treatments than in biopesticide treatments in Hebei. The relative feeding value of alfalfa hay treated with Metarhizium anisopliae IPP330189 was the highest among the treatments. Compared with chemical insecticides, the yield of alfalfa hay was higher in the biopesticides treatments. Biopesticides show a stronger control effect on insect populations and also a better improvement in the quality of alfalfa hay than chemical insecticides. This study provides a basis for exploring and developing a comprehensive control regime for alfalfa insect pests in the different alfalfa-growing regions in China, and for reducing chemical insecticide usage and improving forage quality.

Health Risk Assessment from Organophosphate Insecticides Residues in Commonly Consumed Vegetables of Local Markets, Northern Thailand

Background: Commonly consumed vegetables from local markets are considered at a higher risk for organophosphate insecticides (OPs) contamination. This study aimed to investigate the contamination of OP residues in commonly consumed vegetable samples from local markets in 5 provinces, i.e., Nan, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, and Chiang Mai provinces located in Northern Thailand. A risk assessment of OPs among adult Thai population was also evaluated by calculating the estimated daily intake (EDI) and the acceptable daily intake (ADI).

Socialization and Education on Mass Production of Liquid Organic Fertilizer with the Addition of Local Microorganism Suspension (MOL) of Bacillus cereus Strain NIGR in Pantai Cermin Village, Tanjung Pura District, Langkat Regency

In order to succeed in the development of agricultural sector in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture Number 67/Permentan/SM.050/12/2016 concerning Farmer Institutional Development, it is necessary to provide community service in the agricultural sector and plant cultivation as efforts to strengthen food self-sufficiency, especially during the Covid 19 pandemic. For this reason, we need to carry out community service activities for the production of liquid organic fertilizer using microorganism Bacillus cereus in Pantai Cermin Village, Tanjung Pura District. As we know Pantai Cermin Village, Tanjung Pura District, Langkat which about is 63.6 Km from Medan. In general, the majority of farmers own rice and corn areas and are members of the Gemah Ripah farmer group consisting of 30 farmers. From the results of dedication program, there are around 3000 hectares of rice and corn fields that have become a rice barn for the last 15 years, especially in Langkat Regency. Based on the results of the survey and partner interviews, several priority problems were obtained, including: a. There was a decrease in the selling price of corn in Langkat by Rp. 1,900,-/Kg from the selling price of corn in 2019 of Rp. 4,900,-/Kg to Rp. 3,000,-/Kg currently in Langkat; b. Rice farmers experienced a decrease in purchasing power of chemical compost during the Pandemic, because the price of solid organic compost from the Probiodek brand that functions as a decomposer of organic matter rose to Rp. 40,000,-/Kg; c. Farmers experienced a decline in purchasing power of chemical insecticides on the market; d. Farmers in Langkat currently do not have a knapsacksprayer and they only use 2 units of knapsacksprayer from government assistance to spray plant pests & diseases and this tool is used interchangeably for all farmer groups; e. Farming management is carried out in a simple and conventional way, namely using local F1 seeds (yield) from the previous corn harvest); f. Rice harvesting as well as shelling corn use a simple method of rice mill machine. In order to develop the potential of rice and corn barns, it is necessary to strengthen the independence of farmers through community dedication program (PKM) training in the production of liquid organic fertilizer using microorganism Bacillus cereus from Ristekdikti. The focus is to develop production of liquid organic fertilizer as an alternative to chemical fertilizers and chemical insecticides. The use of microorganisms Bacillus cereus is especially useful for facilitating the decomposition of organic matter in liquid fertilizer solutions so that it is more easily absorbed by plants as fertilizer and insecticide, as well as assisting and motivating partners to continuously continue producing liquid organic fertilizers because it saves costs in purchasing chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the future so as to create economic independence for partners. This will certainly improve the economy of farmer group partners so that life can be more prosperous. All of these activities aim to foster independence in partners when the program ends. It is hoped that food self-sufficiency can be realized that is free from residues of chemical fertilizers and insecticides so that environmentally sustainable agriculture can be realized.

Determination of insecticide residues in soils from Troia agricultural fields by the QuEChERS method

Extensive and misuse of pesticides can cause to toxicity to humans and pollution in the environment. The primary objective of this study was to determine insecticide load of agricultural soils of Troia, located in Troia National Park of Çanakkale Province (Türkiye) by the QuEChERS method. For method verification, blank soil samples were spiked at two levels of pesticides. The overall recovery was 84.8% with a relative standard deviation of 13.0% (n = 230), with the values within acceptable recovery (60-140%) and repeatability (≤20%) ranges set by SANTE. Forty-nine soil samples were collected in the study area in 2020. Thirty-six samples had insecticide residues at varying concentrations. Overall, 23 insecticide residues were detected at different frequencies. The most frequent pesticides were: chlorantraniliprole> imidacloprid> pyridaben> clothianidin> indoxacarb (in decreasing order). Mean concentration of insecticide residues in soils varied between 0.99-77.7 µg/kg. Imidacloprid residues were detected in all fields, except cabbage fields. The highest imidacloprid concentration (23.3 µg/kg) was detected in pepper fields. Imidacloprid was detected in 21 samples with a mean concentration of 6.20 µg/kg. Persistent insecticides with the long half-lives, such as chlorantraniliprole, imidacloprid, and clothianidin, were detected in almost all samples.

A comprehensive review on the pretreatment and detection methods of neonicotinoid insecticides in food and environmental samples.

In recent years, the residues of neonicotinoid insecticide in food and environmental samples have attracted extensive attention. Neonicotinoids have many adverse effects on human health, such as cancer, chronic disease, birth defects, and infertility. They have substantial toxicity to some non-target organisms (especially bees). Hence, monitoring the residues of neonicotinoid insecticides in foodstuffs is necessary to guarantee public health and ecological stability. This review aims to summarize and assess the metabolic features, residue status, sample pretreatment methods (solid-phase extraction (SPE), Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS), and some novel pretreatment methods), and detection methods (instrument detection, immunoassay, and some innovative detection methods) for neonicotinoid insecticide residues in food and environmental samples. This review provides detailed references and discussion for the analysis of neonicotinoid insecticide residues, which can effectively promote the establishment of innovative detection methods for neonicotinoid insecticide residues.

Effect of decontamination and processing on insecticide residues in grape (Muscat Hamburg).

Field and laboratory experiments were conducted to study the effect of simple decontamination methods and processing on imidacloprid, dimethoate, and emamectin benzoate residues in grapes and their processed products by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Among the decontamination methods evaluated, washing with NaCl (2%) solution was effective for reducing imidacloprid (77.55%), dimethoate (83.27%), and emamectin benzoate (77.28%) residues in mature grapes. No metabolites (omethoate and 6-chloronicotinic acid) were detected in both decontamination and processing studies. The grapes were processed into various products, including fresh juice, squash, and raisin, following the standard effective steps for each product. Washing with NaCl (2%) solution for decontamination was included as an additional step in the standard protocol and resulted in substantial removal of surface residues of the selected insecticides. The processing factor calculated was less than one for all the products.

CARACTERIZAÇÃO DA RESISTÊNCIA DE Chrysodeixis includens A DIAMIDAS

ABSTRACT In recent decades, soybean has been one of the most widely grown crops in Brazil. The soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, [1858]; Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is one of the main defoliating pests of soybean that cause damage and affect the cost of production. The overall objective of the present study was to characterize the resistance of C. includens to diamide insecticides. To this end, the baseline susceptibility of C. includens to flubendiamide, chlorantraniliprole, and cyantraniliprole was characterized to estimate their concentrations for diagnostic monitoring of resistance in populations collected in commercial soybean crops in southern Brazil during the 2018/19 season. Under field conditions, evaluations were made of the residual activity of three diamide insecticides: chlorantraniliprole + lambda-cyhalothrin, teflubenzuron, methoxyfenozide, and bifenthrin for discrimination between flubendiamide-susceptible and resistant C. includens. Chrysodeixis includens was more tolerant to cyantraniliprole than to flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole. The field populations had a higher survival rate than the susceptible population. The resistant population showed a resistance ratio to flubendiamide of 70.1-fold. Under field conditions, the residue of the study insecticides, except for bifenthrin, enabled discrimination between flubendiamide-susceptible and resistant C. includens. The data indicate the need to study the cross-resistance relationships between insecticides to improve the rotation recommendation. They also reinforce the importance of using other good management practices, e.g., the use of insecticides based on pest sampling and the choice of other control methods to prevent C. includens from becoming resistant to diamide insecticides.

Determination of Insecticide Residues in the Air at the Breathing Zone While Exposure the Long Lasting Insecticidal Net Using Gas Chromatography with Mass Spectrometry - (GC-MS/MS)

Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) are highly effective tools for preventing malaria infection and reducing associated morbidity and mortality [1]. Vector management chiefly through the usage of insecticide inside recurring spraying (IRS) as well as durable insecticidal nets (LLINs). The concept of utilizing insecticide-treated bed nets came during World War II, when Germans, Russian, and US armies began dealing with their combat uniforms of theirs as well as bed nets to safeguard them against vector-borne problems, primarily malaria as well as leishmaniasis [2]. There are many kinds of nets accessible. They differ by size, material, or therapy. The majority of nets are produced from polyester but nets can also be obtainable in cotton, polyethylene, or maybe polypropylene [3,4]. These insecticides are proven to pose really low health consequences to other mammals and humans, but are extremely poisonous to insects and knock them down, while at really low doses [5]. Mosquitoes drawn towards the LLIN due to the attraction of host (Personnel sleeping down the net), on landing the Insecticide present on the nets knockdown and kill the mosquitoes [6]. The health consequences from the LLINs themselves haven't been properly investigated as well as reported in the peer-reviewed scientific literature. A scientifically rigorous, objective, and also a transparent examination of the risks related to LLINs is necessary to give risk-benefit considerations from this promising technological innovation. Pyrethroids present in the air even they are semi-volatile organic compounds. The pesticide inhalation exposures from the bed net were estimated based on indoor Bomann study [7] The level of breathing zone pesticide was estimated this experiment and determined the concentration of active ingredient present in the breathing zone while using the Deltamethrin 1.52 g/kg coated onto filaments Polyester Long Lasting insecticidal Net. The possible daily systemic dose likely to prevail at the breathing zone due to the inhalation of insecticide while sleeping under the treated net is determined. The experiment was conducted in a chamber of size 10 ft x 10 ft x 10 ft (L x B x H). The net sample was fixed in the room following the routine usage pattern. The indoor air was sampled at an interval of 0 hr (5 minutes after experiment initiation), 2 hr, 4 hr, 9 hr, 10 hr, 11 hr, 12 hr and 14 hr. The air sampling was done at a constant flow rate of 5 L/min for 5 minutes (25 L of air). At each sampling occasion the air was suctioned through silica cartridges from four pre-determined locations of the room using suction pump assembly having air rotameters. The experiment was repeated for three days. The residue of Deltamethrin in air was determined for a period of 14 hours in static conditions (no air exchange in the experimental chamber) and dynamic condition at an air exchange rate 0.5 AER/h.

Micro/trace/toxic elements and insecticide residues level in monofloral bee-collected sunflower pollen- health risk assessment

The aim of the current research was to determine the content of (potentially) toxic elements and insecticide residues in monofloral sunflower bee-collected pollen. For micro- and trace elements determination Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission (ICP-OES) analytical method was used while insecticide residue content was monitored by applying Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique. In total, seventeen micro/trace elements were quantified. None of the twenty four examined insecticides were detected above the limit of detection (LOD) which makes studied sunflower bee-collected pollen eco-friendly both to bees and humans. Based on presence of several toxic as well as potentially toxic elements calculations for estimated weekly intakes (EWI), and oral intakes (OI) were made and used for health risk assessment based on the computation of two different health risk quotients (HQ)- acute (HQA) and long-term (HQL). The obtained results proved that all HQ values for adults were negligible or low except in case of HQL value for arsenic (0.32) which can be characterized as medium. However, in case of children much more precaution is needed due to significant HQL risk for arsenic (1.511). The attained data can help to make additional linkage between bee-collected pollen as food ingredients and potential benefits/risks for human health.

Impacts of dietary exposure to pesticides on faecal microbiome metabolism in adult twins

BackgroundDietary habits have a profound influence on the metabolic activity of gut microorganisms and their influence on health. Concerns have been raised as to whether the consumption of foodstuffs contaminated with pesticides can contribute to the development of chronic disease by affecting the gut microbiome. We performed the first pesticide biomonitoring survey of the British population, and subsequently used the results to perform the first pesticide association study on gut microbiome composition and function from the TwinsUK registry.MethodsDietary exposure of 186 common insecticide, herbicide, or fungicide residues and the faecal microbiome in 65 twin pairs in the UK was investigated. We evaluated if dietary habits, geographic location, or the rural/urban environment, are associated with the excretion of pesticide residues. The composition and metabolic activity of faecal microbiota was evaluated using shotgun metagenomics and metabolomics respectively. We performed a targeted urine metabolomics analysis in order to evaluate whether pesticide urinary excretion was also associated with physiological changes.ResultsPyrethroid and/or organophosphorus insecticide residues were found in all urine samples, while the herbicide glyphosate was found in 53% of individuals. Food frequency questionnaires showed that residues from organophosphates were higher with increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. A total of 34 associations between pesticide residue concentrations and faecal metabolite concentrations were detected. Glyphosate excretion was positively associated with an overall increased bacterial species richness, as well as to fatty acid metabolites and phosphate levels. The insecticide metabolite Br2CA, reflecting deltamethrin exposure, was positively associated with the phytoestrogens enterodiol and enterolactone, and negatively associated with some N-methyl amino acids. Urine metabolomics performed on a subset of samples did not reveal associations with the excretion of pesticide residues.ConclusionsThe consumption of conventionally grown fruit and vegetables leads to higher ingestion of pesticides with unknown long-term health consequences. Our results highlight the need for future dietary intervention studies to understand effects of pesticide exposure on the gut microbiome and possible health consequences.

Dissipation kinetics and the pre-harvest residue of chlorantraniliprole in pigeon pea Cajanus cajan L. succulent pods Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Photodiode array detector (UHPLC-PDA)

Studies were conducted to evaluate insecticide residues of Chlorantraniliprole in pigeon pea succulent pods after foliar application. Chlorantraniliprole was sprayed at 0.6ml/l on pigeon pea crop at the pod formation stage to control pod borers like Helicoverpa armigera and Maruca vitrata. Samples were drawn at 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 days after spray. A validated liquid chromatography method with a Photodiode Array (PDA) detector was used for the residue analysis of chlorantraniliprole. Separation was achieved through the C18 column in the reverse phase. The calibration graphs of chlorantraniliprole in acetonitrile solvent or five blank matrices were linear within the tested interval of 0.1 to 1ppm with a coefficient of determination over 0.9990. Dissipation of chlorantraniliprole was studied in first-order kinetic models (for which the coefficient of determination, R2 was 0.8684). Residues of chlorantraniliprole was 3.57, 3.16, 1.61, 1.13, 0.49, 0.21, 0.05 and 0.00mg/kg at 0, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 days after spraying. The residue level reached below the tolerance limit (MRL) (2mg/kg BW) of Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) on Pesticide Residues after 5 days of spray and below the detectable level after 25 days of spray in succulent pods and recorded a biological half-life of 4.36 days.

Effect of Infrared (I.R.) and Bacillus Cereus on Residual Rate of Insecticide Flash 10% EC

This study aimed to test the effect of two factors, biological (Bacillus cereus) and physical (infrared I.R.) in the transformation of the insecticide residue Flash10% EC on wheat plants. Pathogenicity in vitro experiments showed that B. cereus is not pathogenic on wheat seeds. On the other hand, there was no negative effect of the pesticide on bacteria in solid and liquid media, as the number of bacterial colonies in Flash + I.R treatment was 46.56 compared to the control treatment, which was 43.39. As for the field experiments with regard to the pesticide residues in the soil, the results showed that the highest concentration of the pesticide was 12.50 ppm in the treatment of uncultivated soil sprayed with Flash, while the lowest concentration of the pesticide appeared in the soil planted with wheat sprayed with Flash and (IR) + B-bacterium cerus, which was below the level of appreciation. As for the seed treatment, the highest concentration of the active substance 3.10 ppm appeared in the seeds treated with Flash in the absence of other treatments, while the lowest concentration (0.00) ppm appeared in the treatment of seeds treated with Flash treated with infrared (IR).

Seasonal and geographical variations in insecticide and miticide residues in hop samples produced across three hop-growing regions in the Czech Republic during the years 2018–2020

The aim of this study was to determine the presence of zoocide (insecticide and miticide) residues in hops collected in three hop-growing regions located in the Czech Republic, and to assess their zoocide profiles and residue levels in terms of variability in temperature and precipitation across the 2018–2020 seasons. Furthermore, the weather factors that influenced the occurrence of hop pests are described and discussed. During our 3-year survey, a total of 120 samples of whole-cone hops samples harvested in three hop-growing regions were analysed for the presence of 29 insecticides and miticides using the modified QuEChERS extraction method, followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. A majority, 119 of 120 samples, contained a residue of at least one of the active substances surveyed in this study, and 34 analysed samples contained multiple residues with three to four zoocides presented. Concerning the most frequently detected zoocide residues, spirotetramat and/or its metabolites were found in 94.2% of the samples at levels ranging from 0.02 to 1.08 mg/kg. Of the other zoocides surveyed, residues of fenpyroximate, hexythiazox, bifenazate and lambda-cyhalothrin were routinely found in hop cone samples. Obtained data were then used for evaluating seasonal and geographical variations in the profile of zoocide residues among the hop-growing regions in the years 2018–2020, and the compliance with legal regulations concerning the use of zoocides on hops was ascertained. The results showed that (1) the profile and levels of zoocide residues found in the samples reflected seasonal prevalence of pest infestation on hop plants; (2) the strategy to control pests (especially aphids) used in most of hop yards was consistent across the seasons; and (3) a concentration of spirotetramat residues less than 1 mg/kg was typical for hops grown in the Czech Republic.

Determination of eight neonicotinoid insecticides in Chinese cabbage using a modified QuEChERS method combined with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

A modified QuEChERS method was developed and combined with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to analyze eight neonicotinoid insecticides in Chinese cabbage. Herein, acetonitrile served as extraction solvent. Anhydrous sodium sulfate replaced the traditional anhydrous magnesium sulfate in the phase partition process to eliminate the influence of salt caking and heat release. Primary secondary amine and graphitized carbon black were selected as dispersive-solid phase extraction sorbents according to the clean-up efficiency evaluated by post-column infusion. The method showed good sensitivity with the limits of quantification below 1.0 μg/kg for eight analytes. The average recoveries ranged from 79.0% to 108.4% for three fortification levels, and the matrix effect could be ignored. For the tested samples, six neonicotinoids were detected, while cycloxaprid and imidaclothiz were not. The developed analytical method provided a powerful tool for monitoring neonicotinoid insecticides residues in Chinese cabbage.

Management of Borer and Flubendiamide Residue in Okra Using Milk-Made Bioagent and Calcium Hypochlorite

Okra is an important vegetable, and it is subject to heavy yield losses by insect pests, of which the shoot and fruit borer Earias spp. is serious. Insecticides are used against this pest, leading to insecticide residues. This study evaluates Milkoid, an LAB formulation spray in field by spraying in tandem with flubendiamide and bleaching powder (calcium hypochlorite). The results indicate that the population of epiphytic LAB density was maximum on plants sprayed with Milkoid with or without flubendiamide. The pest damage was significantly reduced after spraying flubendiamide with or without bleaching powder (3.76- 5.30%). Milkoid accelerated the degradation of flubendiamide with the dissipation rate of 70.07% on 15th day after spray. The efficacy of Milkoid in reducing the toxicity and the potential of calcium hypochlorite as an antimicrobial agent and the shoot and fruit borer management are discussed.

A porous boron nitride nanorods-based QuEChERS analysis method for detection of five neonicotinoid pesticide residues in goji berries

To accurately determine neonicotinoid pesticide residues in goji berries, porous boron nitride nanorods (p-BNNRs) were prepared and used as a new QuEChERS (Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe) clean-up sorbent. Combined with ultrahigh-pressure liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), a modified QuEChERS method was developed to determine five neonicotinoid pesticide residues in goji berries. In goji berries, the p-BNNRs were shown to have a greater clean-up ability than typical clean-up materials (C18, PSA) The recoveries of the five targets ranged from 78.1 to 117.3% at three fortified levels, and the LODs ranged from 2.2 to 3.7 μg kg−1. The results indicate that this approach could be successfully used to quickly determine of the five neonicotinoid insecticide residues in goji berries for risk assessment purposes, demonstrating the applicability and suitability of p-BNNRs for the routine evaluation of neonicotinoid insecticide residues in goji berries.

Insecticide residues in Khor Abuhabel sediments and soil of South Kordofan State, Sudan

Insecticide residues in Khor Abuhabel sediments and soil of South Kordofan State, Sudan

A Simple Dispersive Micro-Solid Phase Extraction for Determination of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Surface Water and Fruit Juice Samples

A dispersive micro-solid phase extraction (D-μ-SPE) has been investigated for simple microextraction and preconcentration of fi ve neonicotinoid insecticides residues followed by highperformance liquid chromatography. The neonicotinoid insecticides including thiamethoxam, clothianidin, imidacloprid, acetamiprid, and thiacloprid, were separated on LiChroprep® 100 RP-8 endcapped column using 25% (v/v) acetonitrile with a fl ow rate of 1.0 mL min−1. LiChroprep® RP-18 (C-18) was chosen as an effi cient adsorbent in d-μ-SPE. The experimental parameters affecting the extraction performance of D-μ-SPE were investigated including salt addition, amount of sorbent, sample volume, and kind and volume of desorption solvent. Under the selected conditions, linearity was found in the range of 0.003-0.1 μg mL−1. Low limit of detection and high enrichment factor (11 – 81) were obtained. The proposed method was successfully applied for the determination of neonicotinoid insecticide residues in surface water and fruit juice samples with high obtained recoveries.

Metabarcoding of canopy arthropods reveals negative impacts of forestry insecticides on community structure across multiple taxa

Abstract Insecticides used to combat outbreaks of forest defoliators can adversely affect non‐target arthropods. Forestry insecticides typically suppress Lepidoptera larvae which are the cornerstone of the canopy community of deciduous oak forests. The abrupt removal of this dominant component of the food web could have far‐reaching implications for forest ecosystems, yet it is rarely investigated in practice owing to several methodological shortcomings. The taxonomic impediment and the biased nature of arthropod sampling techniques particularly impede the assessment of insecticide impacts on diverse communities. To tackle this issue, we propose an experimental approach combining sampling by pyrethrum knockdown and species determination via DNA metabarcoding, using community subsampling to derive estimates of species abundances. We applied this protocol to investigate the short‐term effects of the insecticides diflubenzuron (DFB) and Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (BTK) on canopy‐dwelling arthropod communities in German oak woodlands. Our approach allowed us to detect most of the diversity and integrate species abundances in our analyses. By classifying arthropod species into assemblages based on their expected sensitivity rather than coarse taxonomic groupings, we could unveil substantial effects of DFB across multiple taxa 5 weeks after application. Although strong effects on single species appear related to direct toxicity, substantial impacts of DFB on parasitoids and xylophagous beetles suggest that anti‐defoliator treatments can have previously unsuspected indirect effects on some components of forest arthropod communities. The impacts of BTK on community structure were consistent with that of DFB though much weaker. Synthesis and applications. Comparing diversity patterns in the arthropod communities of sprayed and unsprayed oak canopies, our results show that selective insecticides can alter species diversity in presumably non‐sensitive taxa. Even though the ecological significance of these impacts has yet to be assessed in an operational setting, their existence calls for increased regulatory scrutiny on indirect effects. As community approaches become more attainable with the rapid development of DNA metabarcoding, we suggest the inclusion of community‐level end points as regulatory requirements for the approval of forest‐use insecticides.

Effects of insecticides on lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) – bioaccumulation, mortality, and growth

The lesser mealworm (LMW, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer); Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is increasingly used as a novel food and feed source. The feed materials on which this insect species is reared may contain residues of insecticides from agricultural use. The objective of this study was to determine whether selected insecticides, spiked to the substrate, could bioaccumulate in LMW and/or affect growth or survival. Insecticides were selected and spiked at concentrations equal to the legal limit in EU. Tested substances were chlorpyrifos, propoxur, imidacloprid, spinosad, tebufenozide, fipronil, pirimiphos methyl, cypermethrin, and the synergist piperonyl butoxide (PBO). Cypermethrin and PBO were also tested together. Insecticide concentrations in the spiked substrate and larvae were determined by LC-MS/MS. Concentrations in the larvae were largely below the limit of quantification, meaning that bioaccumulation did not occur. Significant reductions in total yield were observed for spinosad (present in the substrate at 1.6 mg/kg) and imidacloprid (0.12 mg/kg). Spinosad is one of few insecticides that is permitted to be used in organic agriculture, which raises questions over the safety of organic produce for insect rearing. More research on the safety of organic produce treated with this insecticide for rearing of LMW is therefore highly recommended. The reported harmful effects of insecticide residues on LMW need to be accounted for by lowering the current legal limits or reconsidering approval for use. More research is advised particularly on sublethal effects of insecticide residues on LMW on adult beetles.