Biological parameters of Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hem.: Aleyrodidae) in four greenhouse cucumber cultivars

Greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), is an important pest of greenhouse throughout the world that causes serious damage on agricultural products. In this research, some biological parameters of the pest were studied in four cucumber cultivars (Royal Sluis, Soltan, Negin and Vida) at two heights (60 and 90 cm) in a greenhouse at 19-26 °C and 80% ± 5 RH. The developmental time of all immature stages were 27.49 ± 0.34, 28.23 ± 0.3, 26.63 ± 0.24 and 27.44 ± 0.3 days, in all cultivars, respectively, but it was slightly longer at the height of 90 cm compared to 60 cm (28.65 ± 0.24 vs. 26.43 ± 0.14 days, respectively). The preimaginal mortality percent ranged from 4 to 7% in different treatments, although this difference was not significant. Female longevities were 27.9 ± 0.67, 21.35 ± 0.34, 26.71 ± 0.6 and 22 ± 0.46 days in the cultivars, respectively (P < 0.01). It was also averaged as 23.29 ± 0.4 and 26.4 ± 0.66 days at both heights. The number of eggs / female were 203.82 ± 4.89, 132.26 ± 3.57, 210.68 ± 5.31 and 162.79 ± 5.15 in different cultivars with an average of 167.66 ± 5.68 and 187.98 ± 4.75 in 90 and 60 cm (P < 0.01). The sex ratio showed no significance among the cultivars at all heights

Effects of imidacloprid, indoxacarb and endosulfan on egg, third-instar larva and pupa of green lacewing Chrysoperla carnea (Neu.: Chrysopidae)

The common green lacewing is a known biocontrol agent because of its wide geographical distribution, high compatibility with different agricultural systems, high searching ability and ease of rearing. Adults and larvae were reared on artificial diet and eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zell.) respectively. The toxicity of insecticides was assessed on eggs (dipping method), third-instar larvae (contact method), and pupae (topical application) of Chrysoperla carnea Stephens. In order to study the sublethal effects, the third-instar larvae were treated with recommended field rate of each insecticide. The effects of the insecticides were assessed using demographic toxicology methods. Rearing conditions were 26 ± 2ºC, 60 ± 10% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16: 8 h (L: D). The results revealed that the insecticides did not affect eggs even at doses higher than recommended field rates. The LD50 values, of endosulfan, imidacloprid and indoxacarb for pupal stage were estimated to be 144, 33, and 21 µg ai/insect respectively. Since the insecticides did not affect the third-instar larvae at the recommended field rate, the LC50 was not estimated for this stage. The results showed that, only net reproduction rate (R0) was significantly affected by treatments. The highest and lowest amounts of rm were 0.176 and 0.152 for control and indoxacarb treatmnets respectively. Based on both acute toxicity and demographic toxicology methods, the rate of toxicity of the tested insecticides was as follows: indoxacarb > endosulfan > imidacloprid

Lethal and sublethal effects of endosulfan, imidacloprid and indoxacarb on first instar larvae of Chrysoperla carnea (Neu.: Chrysopidae) under laboratory conditions

The common green lacewing is an important natural enemy used for pest control in greenhouses. It is also very common in many agricultural systems. Hence, studying lethal and sublethal effects of insecticides on this predator would be useful. Toxicity of endosulfan, imidacloprid and indoxacarb was assessed on 1st instar larvae of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) in laboratory. Residual bioassays were carried out in glass Petri dishes. The LC50 values, for endosulfan, imidacloprid and indoxacarb were estimated 251, 24.6 and 133 mg ai/l, respectively. Imidacloprid was the most toxic among insecticides tested. To assess the sublethal effects, the 1st instars were treated with LC25 of each insecticide. Thereafter, these effects were studied using fertility life table experiments. The analysis of variance revealed significant difference between treatments and control with respect to developmental time of the 1st instar larvae. However, no significant difference was observed among endosulfan, imidacloprid and indoxacarb treatments considering the larval developmental time. Differences between treatments and control were not significant for the developmental time of the 2nd and 3rd instars, pupae, sex ratio, adult longevity, and adult fertility. The results showed that only net reproduction rate (R0) was significantly affected by treatments. The gross reproductive rate (GRR), intrinsic rate of increase (rm), doubling time (DT), mean generation time (T) and finite rate of increase (λ) were not affected. The highest and the lowest amounts of rm were 0.178 and 0.169 in control and indoxacarb, respectively. Imidacloprid was the most toxic of the insecticides tested on the 1st instar followed by indoxacarb and endosulfan. If results similar to laboratory findings are obtained in field conditions, these insecticides might be appropriate candidates for IPM programs

Seasonal Fluctuations in Egg Parasitoid Fauna of Sunn-Pest Eurygaster integriceps Puton in Wheat Fields of New Bonab County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran

Regarding strategic importance of wheat and occurrence of sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps Puton), as an important pest of wheat in Iran, an efficient IPM program against the pest is needed for an acceptable production. Since natural enemies are one of the most important components in IPM programs, their identification is necessary for augmentation as well as conservation and enhancement purposes. Egg parasitoids are the most important biological control agents of sunn pest. Thus, identifying the combination of the species as well as studying their seasonal fluctuations were carried out in summer 2008 in New Bonab county, East Azerbaijan province, northwest of Iran. Egg traps were used for this purpose. Five species of the egg parasitoids belonging to Scelionidae and Encyrtidae were collected. Total parasitism rate was 2.6-22.59% (12.23% at average) in different dates. Trissolcus grandis (Thomson), Ooencyrtus fecundus Ferriere & Voegele and O. telenomicida (Vassiljev)were the most abundant species at different period of the season. This is the first record of O. fecundus from Iran. The other less frequent species were T. semistriatus (Nees), and T. djadetshko (Rjachovsky). T. grandis was the first species that observed in spring with a maximum parasitism rate of 12.76%. The two Ooencyrtus species however, preceded it at summer (Ooencyrtus fecundus, and O. telenomicida with maximum parasitism rates of 13.8 and 13.47%, respectively in different dates in July). There were significant difference of parasitism rates in different geographical parts of the area as the parasitism rate in the eastern fields was found higher than both southern and western ones. It seems that climatic factors are responsible for the observed changes both spatially and temporally and may act directly on the parasitoids or indirectly on hosts