Ecological effects of imidacloprid on arthropod communities in and around a vegetable crop

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes, 2007-03, Vol.42 (3), p.279-286
• Main Authors: Sanchez-Bayo, F, Yamashita, H, Osaka, R, Yoneda, M, Goka, K
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animals; Aphididae; Aphids - drug effects; Aphids - growth & development; Arthropoda; Biodiversity; Biological and medical sciences; community structure; Ecosystem; eggplant; eggplants; Environmental Monitoring; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; imidacloprid; Imidazoles - pharmacology; Insect Control - methods; insecticide residues; Insecticides - pharmacology; Neonicotinoid insecticides; Neonicotinoids; Nitro Compounds - pharmacology; non-target organisms; nontarget organisms; Pesticide Residues - analysis; Population Density; Seasons; Soil and water pollution; soil arthropods; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil science; Solanum melongena; Species Specificity; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0360-1234; 1532-4109
• DOI: 10.1080/03601230701229239

To elucidate the ecological impacts of imidacloprid [1-(6-chloro-3-pyridylmethyl)-N-nitroimidazolidin-2-ylideneamine] on vegetable crops and their surrounding areas, arthropods on eggplant patches treated with this insecticide were monitored throughout two cultivation seasons, spring and autumn, and the results compared with those of control crops. Residues of imidacloprid in soil accounted for 4-8% of total applied, and concentrations outside the crop were always below 5 μ g/kg. Communities of the crop vegetation experienced significant density reductions, mostly of aphids, and had fewer species diversity during the first month. Those in the surrounding pasture were similarly affected though with less intensity, while non-target ground arthropods both inside and outside the crop only showed significant impacts in the two weeks after planting.