Neotropical Entomology (2015) 44, 521-527

G.O. Magalhães, A.M. Vacari, C.P. De Bortoli, A.F. Pomari, S.A. De Bortoli and R.A. Polanczyk (2015)
Interactions between Bt-bioinsecticides and Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), a predator of Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)
Neotropical Entomology 44 (5), 521-527
Abstract: Bioinsecticides are being increasingly used to protect vegetable crops against herbivores, but data on the side effects of such strategy on the third trophic level are still required. We investigated the influence of the Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki HD-1 strain and of the commercial bioinsecticide Agree^® on the biological aspects of the predator Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) when feeding on Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)-infected larvae. On average, infected larvae were consumed more often than the non-infected larvae throughout the predator nymphal development, and no effect on nymph survival was observed. Population growth parameters (R ₀, r _m, and lambda) resulting from the fertility life tables did not differ among treatments. The results led to the conclusion that P. nigrispinus can be used in combination with the product Agree^® or the strain HD-1 for the control of P. xylostella. The combined use of these control agents helps to maintain the balance of the ecosystem and contributes for the production of food for healthy human consumption.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Alessandra M. Vacari, Ricardo Antonio Polanczyk

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
health/environmental effects of pesticides
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Plutella xylostella
Podisus nigrispinus (predator)	Plutella xylostella