Reduced viability of Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, eggs exposed to novaluron.
BACKGROUND
Novaluron is a benzoylphenyl urea chitin synthesis inhibitor that combines good activity against larval stages of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), with low mammalian toxicity. Previous studies suggest that it has deleterious sublethal effects on adults.


RESULTS
Continuous exposure of adult Colorado potato beetles to novaluron-treated foliage as both ovipositional and feeding substrate did not affect their survivorship or the number of eggs produced, but viable larvae hatched only from the eggs that were laid on the first day of the experiment. Viability was restored after adult beetles spent 48-96 hours on untreated leaves. In a separate experiment, direct exposure to novaluron of eggs laid by unexposed beetles also reduced the number of larvae hatching.


CONCLUSIONS
Results confirm a negative effect of novaluron on the number of progeny produced by the Colorado potato beetle. Direct toxicity did not explain all of the reduction in egg hatch observed, suggesting that novaluron probably acted on reproductive adults as well as on eggs after they were deposited.
Alyokhin
Andrei
A
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maine, 5722 Deering Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5722, USA. andrei.alyokhin@umit.maine.edu
Sewell
Gary
G
Choban
Raymond
R
D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000187:drug effects*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D007306:Insecticides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007814:Larva; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects*; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves; D011198:Solanum tuberosum
D007306:Insecticides; D010671:Phenylurea Compounds; C471805:novaluron