title: Are Mummies and Adults of Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) Compatible With Modern Insecticides?
abstract: The parasitic wasp Eretmocerus mundus (Mercet) is an important natural enemy of the widespread key pest Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius). The toxicity of 11 modern insecticides applied at their maximum field recommended rate in Spain was tested in two life stages of E. mundus: adults and mummies. Laboratory and persistence tests were conducted and effects assessed not only in terms of mortality but on reproductive performance as well. Some insecticides caused the same effect to both life stages: flubendiamide, methoxyfenozide, spiromesifen, and flonicamid were harmless, while spinosad and sulfoxaflor were harmful. The last two insecticides cannot be used jointly with E. mundus under any condition because they were highly persistent. The rest of tested insecticides (spirotetramat, metaflumizone, deltamethrin, abamectin, and emamectin) caused some direct mortality to one or both life stages and/or affected reproduction of the parasitic wasp and their harmful effect in the field ranged from short lived (metaflumizone and spirotetramat) to slightly persistent (emamectin) and to moderately persistent (abamectin and deltamethrin). Therefore, they could be recommended for use in integrated pest management programs together with the natural enemy if appropriate safety intervals after insecticide application are observed.
authors.affiliation: Crop Protection Unit, School of Agricultural Sciences, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Del Mar
authors.initials: Mdel M
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Crop Protection Unit, School of Agricultural Sciences, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Associated Unit IVAS, CSIC-UPM.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.affiliation: Associated Unit IVAS, CSIC-UPM. Institute of Agricultural Sciences, CSIC, Serrano 115 Dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fereres
authors.affiliation: Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smagghe
authors.affiliation: Crop Protection Unit, School of Agricultural Sciences, Technical University of Madrid (UPM), Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Associated Unit IVAS, CSIC-UPM. elisa.vinuela@upm.es.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viñuela
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000469:parasitology; D007306:Insecticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009758:Nymph / Q000469:parasitology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000633:toxicity*; D011679:Pupa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013030:Spain; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014863:Wasps / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D010573:Pesticide Residues
keywords: Bemisia tabaci; biocontrol; ecotoxicology; persistence; sublethal effect