Effects Of Some Botanical Insecticides On The Egg Parasitoid Trichogramma Pintoi Voegele (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Abstract

Egg parasitoids are among the most significant biological control agents of a number of insect pests. Among them, Trichogramma species are the most widely used insect natural enemy in the world. Generally, when it raised the idea of using biological control, the effects of insecticides should be studied under laboratory conditions before the release of beneficial natural enemies. In this study, effects of some botanical insecticides on development and behaviour of Trichogramma pintoi Voegele (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) were studied. The experiments were conducted on the host Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), at 25 degrees C, 60-70% relative humidity in the laboratory condition. In the experiments, Neem Azal (azadirachtin) and Spruzit Neu (pyrethrum, hotpepperwax (capsaicin) and Orange Guard (d-Limone) were tested. With the use of LC10, LC25, LC50 ve LC90 doses of Neem Azal and Spruzit Neu against parasitized and unparasitized E. kuehniella eggs, insecticide side effects to the parasitoid biology and behavior was designated. Parasitism rate of T. pintoi was negatively affected by application of azadirachtin and pyrethrum. This negative effect was more observed at pyrethrum. Some biological properties of parasitoid also showed differences depending on parasitoid development stage, insecticide and application dose. Emergence ratio of the parasitoid was significantly affected by LC90 of both insecticide. The results also showed that the most sensitive period of parasitoid was larval stage. In adult toxicity experiment, pyrethrum was found to be more toxic than azadirachtin. The results of behavioral experiments show that these botanical insecticides have strong repellent effect to the parasitoid.