| Popis: |
Several harmful pest species can cause damage in apricot trees. Chemical control is the often preferred method in controlling these pests. Use of pesticides have generally resulted in pesticide resistance and eliminating natural enemies. Exochomus nigromaculatus is a predatory insect of globose scale and other scale insects. Inappropriate use of pesticides has been linked with adverse effects on non-target organisms (e.g., reduction of beneficial species populations and increase of pest populations). This study evaluated the side effects of five insecticides (Acetamiprid, deltamethrin, spirotetramat, sulfoxaflor, dimethoate) and a plant extract (orange oil) on immature stages of E. nigromaculatus using dry film method. Acetamiprid and deltamethrin caused the highest mortality rate (97.3%) besides standard toxic dimethoate. Sulfoxaflor accounted for approximately 70% mortality to E. nigromaculatus. In contrast, spirotetramat and orange oil caused less than 20% mortality to the predator. As a result of the dry film method applied against the pre-adult stage of E. nigromaculatus; dimethoate were classified as harmful (class 4), acetamiprid and deltamethrin were classified as moderately harmful (class 3), sulfoxaflor were classified as less harmful, (class 2) while spirotetramat and orange oil were classified as harmless. Thus, it is concluded that spirotetramat and orange oil are compatible with E. nigromaculatus. |
