Relative toxicity of various insecticides against egg parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii under laboratory condition
摘要
Trichogramma chilonis Ishii (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) is an important egg parasitoid widely used as a biocontrol agent for many lepidopteran pests. Indiscriminate and non-selective use of insecticides in pest management limits the biological attributes of the parasitoid in various ways. Therefore, the study was conducted to check relative toxicity of nine insecticides viz., chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC (0.006%), clothianidin 50WDG (0.004%), emamectin benzoate 5SG (0.002%), lambda-cyhalothrin 5EC (0.004%), cypermethrin 3EC + quinalphos 20EC (0.07%), buprofezin 25SC (0.05%), indoxacarb 14.50SC (0.012%), fipronil 5SC (0.015%) and thiodicarb 75WP (0.15%) against egg parasitization and adult emergence of T. chilonis. The results revealed that chlorantraniliprole 18.5SC was classified as harmless, whereas clothianidin 50WDG, emamectin benzoate 5SG, buprofezin 25SC, and fipronil 5SC were categorized as slightly harmful for both egg parasitization and adult emergence of T. chilonis. However, cypermethrin 3EC + quinalphos 20EC is classified as moderately harmful for both egg parasitization and adult emergence of T. chilonis. Further, lambda-cyhalothrin 5EC was categorized as slightly harmful for egg parasitization and moderately harmful for adult emergence, whereas thiodicarb 75WP was moderately harmful for egg parasitization and slightly harmful for adult emergence. However, indoxacarb 14.50SC was slightly harmful to egg parasitization and harmless to adult emergence. The study indicated that none of the tested insecticides were proven completely safe for T. chilonis. This suggests that avoidance during peak activity times and careful consideration for insecticide integration in integrated pest management programs is necessary.