Detrimental effects of pyriproxyfen on the detoxification and abilities of Belostoma anurum to prey upon Aedes aegypti larvae

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2021-09, Vol.284, p.117130, Article 117130
• Main Authors: Valbon, Wilson R., Hatano, Eduardo, Oliveira, Nádylla R.X., Ataíde, Álvaro D., Corrêa, Maria Júlia M., Gomes, Sabriny F., Martins, Gustavo F., Haddi, Khalid, Alvarenga, Elson S., Oliveira, Eugênio E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Insect growth regulators; Naturally occurring mosquito control; Non-target organisms; Sublethal effects
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117130

Despite being effective in controlling mosquito larvae and a few other target organisms, the application of insecticides into aquatic systems may cause unintended alterations to the physiology or behavioral responses of several aquatic non-target organisms, which can ultimately lead to their death. Here, we firstly evaluated whether the susceptibility of the giant water bug, Belostoma anurum (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae), a predator of mosquito larvae, to pyriproxyfen would be similar to that of its potential prey, larvae of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). Secondly, we recorded the nominal concentrations of pyriproxyfen in water and evaluated whether sublethal exposures would lead to physiological or behavioral alterations on the B. anurum nymphs. We characterized the activities of three major families of detoxification enzymes (i.e., cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, glutathione-S-transferase, and general esterases) and further evaluated the abilities of pyriproxyfen sublethally-exposed B. anurum to prey upon A. aegypti larvae at different prey densities. Our findings revealed that nominal pyriproxyfen concentration significantly decreased (approximately 50%) over the first 24 h. Furthermore, when applied at the concentration of 10 μg a.i./L, pyriproxyfen was approximately four times more toxic to A. aegypti larvae (LT50 = 48 h) than to B. anurum nymphs (LT50 = 192 h). Interestingly, the pyriproxyfen sublethally-exposed (2.5 μg a.i./L) B. anurum nymphs exhibited reduced enzyme activities (cytochrome P450 monooxygenases) involved in detoxication processes and preyed significantly less on A. aegypti larvae when compared to unexposed predators. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that mortality-based pyriproxyfen risk assessments are not always protective of aquatic non-target organisms. [Display omitted] •Pyriproxyfen is more toxic to Aedes aegypti than to its predator, Belostoma anurum.•Pyriproxyfen exposure reduced the cytochrome P450 activities of B. anurum nymphs.•Belostoma anurum preyed less on A. aegypti larvae after being pyriproxyfen-exposed.•Pyriproxyfen pollution negatively affected an aquatic predatory insect species. Summary (Capsule): We demonstrated, for the first time, that pyriproxyfen can detrimentally affect aquatic non-target predatory insects, especially those that prey upon mosquito larvae.