Selective effects of natural and synthetic insecticides on mortality of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and its predator Eriopis connexa (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part B, Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes Pesticides, food contaminants, and agricultural wastes, 2010-08, Vol.45 (6), p.557-561
• Main Authors: Tavares, Wagner S, Costa, Mariana A, Cruz, Ivan, Silveira, Rodrigo D, Serrao, Jose E, Zanuncio, Jose C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adverse effects; Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animals; application rate; Azadirachtin; Benzamides - chemistry; Benzamides - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; Biological Assay; Biological Products - chemistry; Biological Products - toxicity; biopesticides; Brazil; Coccinellidae; Coleoptera; Coleoptera - drug effects; Coleoptera - growth & development; Coleoptera - metabolism; developmental stages; Environmental science; Eriopis; Eriopis connexa; Eriopis connnexa; extracts; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Glycerides - chemistry; Glycerides - toxicity; insect pests; Insecticides; Insecticides - chemical synthesis; Insecticides - chemistry; Insecticides - classification; Insecticides - toxicity; Insects; instars; larvae; Lepidoptera; lufenuron; mortality; natural enemies; neem oil; Noctuidae; nontarget organisms; plant pests; Predation; Predatory Behavior; predatory insects; pyroligneous extract; Soil and water pollution; Soil science; Spodoptera - drug effects; Spodoptera - growth & development; Spodoptera - metabolism; Spodoptera frugiperda; Survival Rate; temporal variation; Terpenes - chemistry; Terpenes - toxicity; Time Factors; Toxicity; Zea mays; Zea mays - parasitology
• ISSN: 0360-1234; 1532-4109
• DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2010.493493

Spodoptera frugiperda Smith (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a serious pest of corn in several American countries. It is mainly controlled with synthetic insecticides. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of the natural products, neem oil and pyroligneous extract, and the synthetic insecticide, lufenuron, at 2.50mL water (0.25 %) on the mortality of 2-, 4- and 6-day-old caterpillars of S. frugiperda, and their selectivities against fourth instar larvae of Eriopis connnexa Germar (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Four- and 6-day-old S. frugiperda caterpillars showed higher mortality after exposure to neem oil (83.33 ± 0.83 and 89.58 ± 0.90 %, respectively) and lufenuron (95.83 ± 0.96 and 85.41 ± 0.83 %), compared to pyroligneous extract (68.75 ± 0.69 and 31.25 ± 0.31 %). The deleterious effect of pyroligneous extract was higher in 2- (83.33 ± 0.83 % mortality) and 4-day-old (68.75 ± 0.69 %) S. frugiperda caterpillars than in 6-day-old caterpillars (31.25 ± 0.31 %). Larval mortality of the predator E. connexa was lower with neem oil and pyroligneous extract (25.00 ± 0.33 %) than with lufenuron (91.66 ± 1.22 %). Neem oil is thus recommended for control of S. frugiperda because of its high toxicity, combined with its relatively low toxicity to larvae of the natural enemy E. connexa.