SIDE EFFECTS OF TEFLUBENZURON AND CHLORFENAPYR IN ERIOPIS CONNEXA EGGS (COLEOPTERA: COCCINELLIDAE)

FOGEL, MARILINA NOELIA; RIMOLDI, FEDERICO; PINEDA, SAMUEL; SCHNEIDER, MARCELA INÉS; RONCO, ALICIA

COMMUNICATION IN APPLIED BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Ghent University

Lugar: Ghent, Belgium; Año: 2009 vol. 74 p. 419 - 423

The conservation of the natural enemies in an agroecosystem is a goal for the IPM´s promoters. However the pesticides commonly used for the control pest could reduce the natural enemies’ populations due to their toxicity. Eriopis connexa is a generalist predator from the Neotropical Region, feeding on soft-bodied prey such as aphids, whiteflies, lepidopteran eggs, etc. Also, it is considered as a potential biological control agent in this region. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of teflubenzuron and chlorfenapyr on the egg stage of E. connexa. Commercial compounds and the maximum registered concentrations for their field use were employed: Nomolt® (15% teflubenzurón, 45 mg/L a.i., BASF Argentina S.A.) and Sunfire® (24% chlorfenapyr, 72 mg/L a.i., BASF Argentina S.A.). The experiments were carried out under laboratory conditions at 25±1°C of temperature, 75±5% RH and 16:8 L: D photoperiod. Mass of 25-30 eggs ≤ 48 h-old were treated by dipping in insecticides solutions during 25 seconds. The experiment was replicated 3-4 times. The controls were treated with the dissolvent (water) + 0.01% Tween® 80. The mortality and the development time for each instar stage were evaluated daily and during all the predator life span.  No statistical differences were found between treatments with respect to survival rate for each development stage and in the accumulated survivorship. Although any effects were observed in the development rate from the neonate larvae to pupa but significant differences were found for each development stage. The role of the chorion as a protected barrier to pesticides is discussed.