Phytoparasitica (2011) 39, 35-41

Jean-Rener Joseph, Arnaud Ameline and Aude Couty (2011)
Effects on the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi of an insecticide (Plenum^®, pymetrozine) specific to plant-sucking insects
Phytoparasitica 39 (1), 35-41
Abstract: The use of a selective insecticide is highly recommended for Integrated Pest Management programs. Plenum (a.i.: pymetrozine; Syngenta Agro), a systemic insecticide, is regarded as a good candidate for use in situations where plant-sucking insects have to be controlled and where natural enemies can play a substantial role as biological control agents. In this context, the effects of Plenum on a host-endoparasitoid relationship were investigated. Potato aphids Macrosiphum euphorbiae were reared for 4 days on an artificial diet supplemented with a low concentration of Plenum (sublethal concentration inducing 15% aphid mortality) before parasitization by the endoparasitoid Aphidius ervi. The development of A. ervi larvae was negatively affected, especially during the early stages of development, and the sex ratio of the progeny was strongly male-biased. Moreover, the host-choice experiment showed that A. ervi was not able to discriminate between control and Plenum-contaminated aphids. These results show that Plenum may not be as selective as it was previously thought to be, and the observed effects need to be considered when developing IPM systems.
(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): Aude Couty, Arnaud Ameline

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
resistance to pesticides

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Macrosiphum euphorbiae
Aphidius ervi (parasitoid)	Macrosiphum euphorbiae