Toxicity of emamectin benzoate to Cydia pomonella (L.) and Cydia molesta (Busck) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): laboratory and field tests.
BACKGROUND
Emamectin benzoate is a novel macrocyclic lactone insecticide derived from naturally occurring avermectin molecules isolated by fermentation from the soil microorganism Streptomyces avermitilis Kim & Goodfellow. The present study aims to evaluate the toxicity of emamectin benzoate to codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), and oriental fruit moth, C. molesta (Busck), under laboratory and semi-field conditions.


RESULTS
Dose response bioassays showed that emamectin benzoate had a high level of intrinsic toxicity to early-stage larvae of both species, and that contact activity might contribute significantly to mortality. In the semi-field trials, residual toxicity lasted for more than 1 week. Ovicidal activity was recorded only for C. pomonella (approximately 30%), irrespective of the concentrations tested. Field trials confirmed the efficacy of emamectin benzoate on codling moth when applied at 7 day intervals. Fruit damage, both from the first and second generations, was comparable with that on treatment with chlorpyrifos-ethyl, used as a chemical reference.


CONCLUSIONS
Emamectin benzoate may be considered a valuable tool for the control of codling moth as a component of an IPM programme. Its collective advantages are: high efficacy, lack of cross-resistance with currently used products, control of secondary pests such as oriental fruit moth and selective toxicity that spares beneficials.
Ioriatti
Claudio
C
Plant Protection Department, IASMA Research Centre, Via E. Mach 1, I-38010, San Michele all'Adige (TN), Italy. claudio.ioriatti@iasma.it
Anfora
Gianfranco
G
Angeli
Gino
G
Civolani
Stefano
S
Schmidt
Silvia
S
Pasqualini
Edison
E
D000818:Animals; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects; D009036:Moths / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects
D007559:Ivermectin; C108024:emamectin benzoate