Effects of azadirachtin on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and its compatibility with predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on strawberry

BACKGROUND: The spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, is the major strawberry pest in Brazil. The main strategies for its control comprise synthetic acaricides and predatory mites. The recent register of a commercial formula of azadirachtin (Azamax^® 12 g L^?1) can be viable for control of T. urticae. In this work, the effects of azadirachtin on T. urticae and its compatibility with predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus macropilis in the strawberry crop were evaluated. RESULTS: Azadirachtin was efficient against T. urticae, with a mortality rate similar to that of abamectin. In addition, the azadirachtin showed lower biological persistence (7 days) than abamectin (21 days). Azadirachtin did not cause significant mortality of adult predatory mites (N. californicus and P. macropilis), but it did reduce fecundity by 50%. However, egg viability of the azadirachtin treatments was similar to that of the control (>80% viability). The use of azadirachtin and predatory mites is a valuable tool for controlling T. urticae in strawberry crop. CONCLUSIONS: Azadirachtin provided effective control of T. urticae and is compatible with the predatory mites N. californicus and P. macropilis. It is an excellent tool to be incorporated into integrated pest management for strawberry crop in Brazil. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insect growth regulator effects of azadirachtin and neem oil on survivorship, development and fecundity of Aphis glycines (Homoptera: Aphididae) and its predator, Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

BACKGROUND: Aphis glycines Matsumura, an invasive insect pest in North American soybeans, is fed upon by a key biological control agent, Harmonia axyridis Pallas. Although biological control is preferentially relied upon to suppress insect pests in organic agriculture, approved insecticides, such as neem, are periodically utilized to reduce damaging pest populations. The authors evaluated direct spray treatments of two neem formulations, azadirachtin and neem seed oil, under controlled conditions for effects on survivorship, development time and fecundity in A. glycines and H. axyridis. RESULTS: Both azadirachtin and neem seed oil significantly increased aphid nymphal mortality (80 and 77% respectively) while significantly increasing development time of those surviving to adulthood. First-instar H. axyridis survival to adulthood was also significantly reduced by both neem formulations, while only azadirachtin reduced third-instar survivorship. Azadirachtin increased H. axyridis development time to adult when applied to both instars, while neem oil only increased time to adult when applied to first instar. Neither neem formulation affected the fecundity of either insect. CONCLUSIONS: Results are discussed within the context of future laboratory and field studies aimed at clarifying if neem-derived insecticides can be effectively integrated with biological control for soybean aphid management in organic soybeans.     

Pyrethroids and the economics of pest management

Pyrethroid insecticides effect excellent control of a wide range of insect pest species at low cost to the user. In outlets where a broad spectrum of pests occur, alternative compounds are often more expensive and frequently have to be combined to provide an acceptable spectrum of control. The benefits of the pyrethroids have led to their extensive and often exclusive use in many of these outlets around the world. However, such dependency on a single class of chemistry brings with it the attendant threat of resistance. Pyrethroid resistance has now been documented in many species of insect around the world and for several of these, changing to other insecticides has meant large increases in the cost of control programs. Analysis of the US insecticide market has shown that in 1987 the average insecticide cost to a mid-south cotton grower was $32 acre^?1 (1 acre = 0-405 ha). A hypothetical case was examined where resistance to the pyrethroids occurred in one key pest, Heliothis virescens, the tobacco budworm. The level of resistance was defined such that 50 % of the normally pyrethroid-treated area was now treated with the most cost-effective alternative. Under these conditions, a mid-south grower would see the cost of insect control nearly double to $61-50 acre. Extrapolating such increases to the whole US cotton crop or to global cotton production would lead to increased insecticide costs of $230 × 10⁶ and $1-4 × 10⁹ per year, respectively. Making similar assumptions for all crops, the increased global costs of only a moderate amount of pyrethroid resistance could be as high as $2-4 × W⁹ annually. There is, thus, a very real need to maintain the pyrethroids as effective insect-control agents for as long as possible.     

Effect of azadirachtin on the control of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anticarsia gemmatalis</Emphasis> and its impact on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichogramma pretiosum</Emphasis>

Anticarsia gemmatalis has great potential to reduce soybean productivity, and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum is a major agent in the biological control of this pest in soybean fields. We show that azadirachtin is able to control velvetbean caterpillars in soybean plants and also that it has no effects on the parasitoid T. pretiosum. Soybean plants were sprayed with solutions containing control (water), 50 and 100 mg.l ⁻¹ of azadirachtin (AzaMax™ 12 g a.i.l ⁻¹). Third instar larvae of A. gemmatalis were confined to soybean plants after the spraying. Leaf consumption and larval mortality of A. gemmatalis were evaluated. Newly emerged females of T. pretiosum were placed for 24 h in tubes with a piece of cardboard containing the same doses of azadirachtin used against velvetbean caterpillars. After 24 h, cardboard with 20 eggs of A. gemmatalis was offered for parasitism during 24 h, and the emergence and sex ratio of progenies were determined. Azadirachtin at 50 or 100 mg.l ⁻¹ reduced leaf consumption and caused 100% mortality in A. gemmatalis larva. Azadirachtin did not negatively affect the parasitism, emergence or sex ratio of the progeny. This indicates that the product can be used with mass release of T. pretiosum to control A. gemmatalis.     

四种杀虫剂对桃蚜和异色瓢虫的选择毒性及 害虫生物防治与化学防治的协调性评价

测定了吡虫啉、鱼藤酮、阿维菌素和印楝素4种杀虫剂对桃蚜及其捕食性天敌异色瓢虫成虫的相对毒力。4种药剂对桃蚜的毒力大小依次为阿维菌素＞吡虫啉＞鱼藤酮＞印楝素,其LC50分别为0.042、1.96、6.54和10.17 mg/L。对异色瓢虫的LC50则分别为1009.42、201.89、8202.90和大于7500 mg/L,益害毒性比分别为24033.81、103.01、1254.27和大于786.63。4种药剂在有效防治桃蚜的前提下对天敌异色瓢虫的安全性依次为阿维菌素＞鱼藤酮＞印楝素＞吡虫啉。阿维菌素、吡虫啉、印楝素和鱼藤酮这4种药剂均可在蚜虫综合治理中发挥有效的作用。     

Protein metabolism in Spodoptera litura (F.) is influenced by the botanical insecticide azadirachtin

Azadirachtin, as a botanical insecticide, affects a wide variety of biological processes, including reduction of feeding, suspension of molting, death of larvae and pupae, and sterility of emerged adults in a dose-dependent manner. However, the mode of action of this toxin remains obscure. By using proteomic techniques, we analyzed changes in protein metabolism of Spodoptera litura (F.) induced by azadirachtin. Following feeding 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera litura (F.) with an artificial diet containing 1 ppm azadirachtin until pupation, 48 h old pupae were collected and protein samples prepared. Total soluble protein content was measured and the results showed that azadirachtin significantly influenced protein level. Moreover, the proteins were separated by 2-DE (two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) and 10 proteins were significantly affected by azadirachtin treatment when compared to an untreated control. Six of these proteins were identified with peptide mass fingerprinting using MALDI-TOF-MS after in-gel trypsin digestion. These proteins are involved in various cellular functions. One identified protein may function as an ecdysone receptor, which regulates insect development, and reproduction. It is suggested that the botanical insecticide azadirachtin affects protein expression and the azadirachtin-related proteins would be essential for a better understanding of the mechanisms by which neem toxins exert their effects on insects.     

Integrated pest management in protected ornamentals in England1

During the past 2 years, there has been a rapid expansion of integrated pest management (IPM) in the ornamental sector of the glasshouse industry. Most of this expansion has resulted from improved availability of Amblyseius spp. for the control of thrips, although there is little information on the likelihood of success with this predator. IPM was done on 20 plant species on 21 nurseries in south-east England and there were many successes with crops that would normally receive intensive insecticide programmes to control thrips. Each plant species required its own IPM programme to be devised according to its pest complex. Techniques, particularly to monitor IPM, were devised and some staff were trained to assist in the monitoring. IPM is generally twice as expensive as routine insecticide programmes but has other advantages such as a safer environment for staff and better crop quality.     

Green peach aphid,Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), reproduction during exposure to sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid and azadirachtin

BACKGROUND: Resurgence of insect pests following insecticide applications is often attributed to natural enemy disturbance, but hormesis could be an alternative or additional mechanism. Green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer), is an important insect pest of many crops worldwide that may be exposed to sublethal insecticide concentrations over time. Here, the hypothesis that exposure to low concentrations of imidacloprid and azadirachtin can induce hormetic responses in M. persicae is tested in the laboratory. RESULTS: When insects were exposed to potato leaf discs dipped in sublethal concentrations of insecticide, almost all measured endpoints—adult longevity, F1 production, F1 survival and F2 production—were affected, and a statistically significant (P < 0.05) stimulatory response was recorded for F2 production following exposure to imidacloprid. No other measures for hormesis were statistically significant, but other trends of hormetic response were consistently observed. CONCLUSIONS: Given that variable distribution and degradation of insecticides in the field would result in a wide range of concentrations over time and space, these laboratory experiments suggest that exposure to sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid and azadirachtin could stimulate reproduction in M. persicae. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sublethal effects of azadirachtin on lipid metabolism and sex pheromone biosynthesis of the Asian corn borer Ostrinia furnacalis

Azadirachtin has remarkable toxic and growth inhibitory effects on Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). In this study, sublethal effects of azadirachtin on fatty acid metabolism and sex pheromone biosynthesis in O. furnacalis were investigated. Quantities of fatty acids were significantly reduced when larvae were fed a diet containing azadirachtin at 0.1?C10?ppm. After 10?days, fatty acids were reduced by 50% on a diet treated with 10?ppm azadirachtin; the relative composition of fatty acids was also affected. The relative proportion of C18:2 fatty acid decreased significantly in adult survivors, correlating with decreased fecundity. Furthermore, sex pheromone titers in adults were inversely proportional to dietary azadirachtin concentration, and reduced by 50% relative to controls when larvae were fed a diet containing 10?ppm azadirachtin. However, there were no effects of azadirachtin on pheromone blend ratios. Our results suggest that reductions in fecundity and pheromone titer in O. furnacalis are associated with alterations in lipid metabolism by azadirachtin, although these effects are not linked to a reduction in consumption.     

Insecticide‐induced hormesis and arthropod pest management

Ecological backlashes such as insecticide resistance, resurgence and secondary pest outbreaks are frequent problems associated with insecticide use against arthropod pest species. The last two have been particularly important in sparking interest in the phenomenon of insecticide‐induced hormesis within entomology and acarology. Hormesis describes a biphasic dose–response relationship that is characterized by a reversal of response between low and high doses of a stressor (e.g. insecticides). Although the concept of insecticide‐induced hormesis often does not receive sufficient attention, or has been subject to semantic confusion, it has been reported in many arthropod pest species and natural enemies, and has been linked to pest outbreaks and potential problems with insecticide resistance. The study of hormesis remains largely neglected in entomology and acarology. Here, we examined the concept of insecticide‐induced hormesis in arthropods, its functional basis and potential fitness consequences, and its importance in arthropod pest management and other areas. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

The production of azadirachtin by in-vitro tissue cultures of neem,Azadirachta indica

Callus produced from leaves of a Ghanaian strain of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica A. Juss has been shown to produce the natural insecticide azadirachtin when grown in a defined medium. The azadirachtin was isolated by standard procedures of solvent partition and column chromatography monitored by supercritical fluid chromatography. Biological activity was monitored with antifeedant tests using the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria Forsk.). The azadirachtin was identified by chromatography on three independent chromatographic systems (SFC, HPLC & TLC) and two thin-layer colour tests. It has 100% antifeedant activity at < 0.04mg litre^?1. The yield of azadirachtin was 0.0007% based on dry weight of callus.     

Response of two lacewing species to biorational and broad-spectrum insecticides

Green lacewings, includingChrysoperla rufilabris (Burmeister) andCeraeochrysa cubana (Hagen), are predators of small, soft-bodied insects including whiteflies. The silverleaf whitefly,Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring [formerlyB. tabaci (Gennadius) strain B], is an important pest of agronomic, vegetable and ornamental crops. Practical use of these lacewings as biological control agents would be facilitated by better understanding of their responses to both biorational (selective) and broad-spectrum insecticides. The topical and residual toxicity of azadirachtin (Azatin-EC^TM), insecticidal soap (M-Pede^TM), paraffinic oil (Sunspray Ultra-Fine Spray Oil^TM) and the pyrethroid bifenthrin (Brigade^TM) to eggs, larvae and adults of the lacewings were studied in the laboratory. Larvae ofC. cubana were much more tolerant to residues of bifenthrin than wasC. rufilabris and were somewhat more tolerant to topically applied soap. At normal field concentrations, azadirachtin (0.005%, by wt a.i.), paraffinic oil (1.0% by volume) and soap (1.0% by volume) were not toxic to larvae or adults of either species either topically or residually. Oil was toxic topically to eggs but azadirachtin and soap were not. Bifenthrin was toxic topically and residually to larvae and adults but was not so toxic to eggs as was oil. Thus, selectivity of all materials tested was relative to lacewing species and lifestage. The relative tolerance to insecticide residues exhibited byC. cubana larvae may be related to its trash-carrying habit, suggesting that use of trash-carrying chrysopids in place of non-trash carriers for augmentative biological control would increase options for non-disruptive chemical intervention when necessary.     

Management of resistance to pesticides in cotton pests

Abstract

In recent years, nationwide insecticide resistance management (IRM) strategies in Zimbabwe, Egypt and Australia have successfully overcome existing resistance problems on cotton and prevented further outbreaks in some key pests. These strategies, which rely heavily on pragmatic assumptions regarding the efficacy of counter‐measures and the biology of the pest, relate little to theoretical models of resistance management whose tenets have so far not been experimentally appraised. These IRM strategies are compared with a simple but rigid programme used throughout Francophone countries of Africa that has successfully controlled the pest complex on cotton and increased yield without eliciting resistance in any pests. We examine the motivations, philosophies and logistics of these control programmes on cotton, and outline scope for improvements to existing and future IRM.     

Effect of azadirachtin applied systemically through roots of plants on the mortality,development and fecundity of the cabbage aphid (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brevicoryne brassicae</Emphasis>)

The effect of low concentrations of azadirachtin applied systemically through root tissues of rape plants (Brassica napus subsp.napus) on the mortality, period of development, longevity and fecundity of the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae L.) (Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) was studied. The concentrations of azadirachtin A tested were: 0.25, 0.05, 0.005, 0.0005 and 0.00005 mg ml⁻¹. The mortality of cabbage aphid nymphs, particularly during the period of ecdysis, increased significantly with increasing concentrations. Azadirachtin had no effect on the length of the development period of the respective immature stages of cabbage aphids. The average longevity of the cabbage aphids decreased with increasing azadirachtin concentration and time spent feeding. The fecundity of aphids decreased after the application of azadirachtin. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 6, 2004.     

International plant protection; the role of FAO

Plant protection has many international aspects; it is also quickly changing, especially in relation to sustainability. FAO’s activities in plant protection are grouped in four major thrusts: plant quarantine, pesticide management, integrated pest management and migratory pest control. The International Plant Protection Convention defines the FAO’s activities in plant quarantine, while, in response to the GATT Uruguay Round, harmonization of plant quarantine is also being undertaken. Pesticide management activities address the International Code of Conduct on the Distribution and Use of Pesticides and standard setting on pesticide residues. Integrated Pest Management is the core of the plant protection programme, together with international coordination of migratory pest control. All these activities are complemented by technical assistance programmes, including assistance with the establishment of plant protection services.FAO’s activities remain a compromise between what member countries see as desirable and what is affordable. Long term commitment is required to achieve result. New functions in quarantine and pesticide management have been taken up, but the international assessment of pesticides needs urgent attention. The paradigm change away from pesticide use will require further international cooperation. Substantial research and a new control system is needed for locust control.     

Inheritance of resistance to a new non‐steroidal ecdysone agonist,fufenozide, in the diamondback moth,Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

BACKGROUND: The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.), is a cosmopolitan pest of cruciferous crops. Fufenozide, a novel non‐steroidal ecdysone agonist, exhibits good efficacy and plays an increasingly important role in the control of Lepidopterous pests in China. A laboratory strain of DBM was selected for resistance to fufenozide, and the genetic basis of resistance was studied. RESULTS: The resistant strain, selected under laboratory conditions, exhibited a higher level of resistance to fufenozide (302.8‐fold based on LC₅₀s) than the laboratory susceptible strain. Mortality data from the testing of F₁ progeny of reciprocal crosses of resistant and susceptible DBM indicated that resistance was autosomal and incompletely recessive with a degree of dominance of ?0.664. Chi‐square analysis from responses of a backcross of crossed F₁ progeny and the resistant strain and F₂ progeny were highly significant, suggesting that the resistance was probably controlled by more than one gene. The estimated realised heritability (h²) of fufenozide resistance was 0.08, indicating that diamondback moth may have a lower chance of developing resistance to fufenozide than other kinds of insecticide. CONCLUSION: The resistance of DBM to fufenozide might be autosomal and incompletely recessive, and the resistance is probably controlled by more than one gene. These results provide the basic information for pest management programmes. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Insecticide resistance,control failure likelihood and the First Law of Geography

Insecticide resistance is a broadly recognized ecological backlash resulting from insecticide use and is widely reported among arthropod pest species with well‐recognized underlying mechanisms and consequences. Nonetheless, insecticide resistance is the subject of evolving conceptual views that introduces a different concept useful if recognized in its own right – the risk or likelihood of control failure. Here we suggest an experimental approach to assess the likelihood of control failure of an insecticide allowing for consistent decision‐making regarding management of insecticide resistance. We also challenge the current emphasis on limited spatial sampling of arthropod populations for resistance diagnosis in favor of comprehensive spatial sampling. This necessarily requires larger population sampling – aiming to use spatial analysis in area‐wide surveys – to recognize focal points of insecticide resistance and/or control failure that will better direct management efforts. The continuous geographical scale of such surveys will depend on the arthropod pest species, the pattern of insecticide use and many other potential factors. Regardless, distance dependence among sampling sites should still hold, following the maxim that the closer two things are, the more they resemble each other, which is the basis of Tobler's First Law of Geography. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

The Red Queen in a potato field: integrated pest management versus chemical dependency in Colorado potato beetle control

Originally designed to reconcile insecticide applications with biological control, the concept of integrated pest management (IPM) developed into the systems‐based judicious and coordinated use of multiple control techniques aimed at reducing pest damage to economically tolerable levels. Chemical control, with scheduled treatments, was the starting point for most management systems in the 1950s. Although chemical control is philosophically compatible with IPM practices as a whole, reduction in pesticide use has been historically one of the main goals of IPM practitioners. In the absence of IPM, excessive reliance on pesticides has led to repeated control failures due to the evolution of resistance by pest populations. This creates the need for constant replacement of failed chemicals with new compounds, known as the ‘insecticide treadmill’. In evolutionary biology, a similar phenomenon is known as the Red Queen principle – continuing change is needed for a population to persevere because its competitors undergo constant evolutionary adaptation. The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is an insect defoliator of potatoes that is notorious for its ability to develop insecticide resistance. In the present article, a review is given of four case studies from across the United States to demonstrate the importance of using IPM for sustainable management of a highly adaptable insect pest. Excessive reliance on often indiscriminate insecticide applications and inadequate use of alternative control methods, such as crop rotation, appear to expedite evolution of insecticide resistance in its populations. Resistance to IPM would involve synchronized adaptations to multiple unfavorable factors, requiring statistically unlikely genetic changes. Therefore, integrating different techniques is likely to reduce the need for constant replacement of failed chemicals with new ones. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry     

Efficacy of attract‐and‐kill devices for the control of Ceratitis capitata

BACKGROUND: The control of Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann traditionally has relied on chemical control with organophosphate insecticides. The use of many of these substances has been banned by new European directives; therefore, the development of new control methods is essential to manage this pest. Bait sprays with spinosad, mass trapping and lure‐and‐kill techniques have been the base for new integrated pest management programmes. In this study, a 2 year field trial was conducted in two citrus areas to test the efficacy of attract‐and‐kill devices against mass trapping and spinosad‐plus‐bait treatments. RESULTS: The Magnet^® MED attract‐and‐kill device, Spintor^® treatments and mass trapping achieved good control of C. capitata populations, as confirmed by low percentages of damaged fruit in the assessments performed during the harvest period. On the other hand, fly population levels on plots treated with other attract‐and‐kill prototype devices increased more than threefold by comparison with the populations recorded in the rest of the treated plots. The same effect was observed for fruit damage, with 6–8 times less damage with Magnet^® MED and spinosad treatments, respectively, than with the attract‐and‐kill prototype devices. CONCLUSION: By using an effective attractant, conventional trapping systems can be replaced with cheaper and easier‐to‐handle attract‐and‐kill devices. The efficacy of these devices and their advantages over conventional mass trapping systems are discussed. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Sublethal effects of nine insecticides on Drosophila suzukii and its major pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae

Background

Although the pupal parasitoid Trichopria drosophilae is used in conservative and augmentative biocontrol of Drosophila suzukii infestations, current pest management strategies mostly rely on multiple insecticide applications. In this context, the aim of the study was to investigate the baseline toxicity of nine insecticides on D. suzukii larvae and their multiple sublethal effects (LC₁₀) on immature stages of the pest feeding on contaminated diet and T. drosophilae developing within the intoxicated host.

Results

Chlorpyriphos and azadirachtin showed the lowest and the highest LC₁₀, the values of which were 9.78 × 10¹³ and 1.46 × 10³ times lower than their recommended label field rate, respectively. Among tested insecticides, imidacloprid, malathion and dimethoate were the only treatments that did not affect the juvenile development time of D. suzukii, while spinosad and the organophosphates chlorpyriphos and dimethoate did not influence fly pupal size. No sublethal effects were recorded on T. drosophilae degree of infestation (DI) and juvenile development time. On the contrary, cyazypyr and dimethoate negatively affected the success of parasitism (SP) and the number of progeny of the pupal parasitoid, in association with malathion for the first parameter and spinosad for the fertility. Compared to the untreated control, more female progeny emerged following azadirachtin exposure, while dimethoate caused the opposite effect. Imidacloprid, lambda-cyhalothrin and spinetoram decreased hind tibia length of emerged parasitoids.

Conclusion

This study provides new insights on the (eco)toxicological profile of nine insecticides and new information needed to support the deployment of T. drosophilae in the field within the sustainable management techniques against D. suzukii. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.