Insecticide selectivity and behavioral response of the earwig Doru luteipes

Insecticide lethal and sub-lethal effects on non-target species are a focus in pest management programs. However, such studies are usually centered in relatively few groups of natural enemies of insect pests. Earwigs, although insect pest predators of key importance in Neotropical maize fields, have received very little attention. The earwig Doru luteipes (Sccuder) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae) is one of the main predators of the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Both species were subjected to toxicity and selectivity studies with the insecticides chlorantraniliprole, chlorfenapyr, chlorpyrifos, λ-cyhalothrin, deltamethrin, etofenprox, methomyl and spinosad. The behavioral locomotory response of D. luteipes to these compounds was also assessed. Concentration-response bioassays indicated very low potency of chlorantraniliprole (>550,000× less toxic), followed by spinosad (>3,500× less toxic) and etofenprox (>1,100× less toxic) as compared to chlorpyrifos, the most toxic insecticide studied against this earwig species. These same three compounds exhibited the highest selectivity when comparing the earwig with its prey, the fall armyworm. Time-response bioassays using the insecticide label rates recommended against the fall armyworm confirmed the high selectivity of chlorantraniliprole and etofenprox, in addition to deltamethrin and methomyl. Again chlorpyrifos exhibited the lowest levels of selectivity. Exposure of the earwig to insecticide-treated surfaces indicated that spinosad reduced the locomotory activity of the adults probably increasing their insecticide exposure, while they avoided chlorfenapyr-, etofenprox-, and chlorpyrifos-treated surfaces. Chlorantraniliprole and etofenprox seem the most promising compounds for use against S. frugiperda whilst preserving populations of D. luteipes.