Cisneros, Juan, Goulson, Dave, Derwent, Lara C, Penagos, Dora I, Hernández, Olivia and Williams, Trevor (2002) Toxic effects of spinosad on predatory insects. Biological Control, 23 (2). pp. 156-163. ISSN 1049-9644

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Abstract

Spinosad (Dow AgroSciences) is a mixture of tetra-cyclic-macrolide compounds produced by a soil actinomycete and has been classified as a bioinsecticide. Spinosad is highly active against Lepidoptera but is reported to be practically nontoxic to insect natural enemies. We assessed the impact of Spinosad in a granular maize-flour formulation on a selection of insect predators over periods of 2-14 days. In all cases, the quantities of Spinosad used were less than the maximum recommended rates given on the product label. Adults of Aleochara bilineata Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) suffered a high prevalence of mortality following consumption of 1000 or 2000 ppm Spinosad active ingredient (a.i.), but little mortality at 200 ppm. Larvae of Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) did not consume the granular formulation and suffered little overall mortality. After 14 days of exposure, the earwig, Doru taeniatum (Dohrn) (Dermaptera:Forficulidae), suffered 48% mortality in the 1.2 ppm Spinosad treatment increasing to 98% in the 1200 ppm Spinosad treatment compared to 20% in controls. Earwigs suffered 86% mortality/intoxication 72 h after feeding on Spinosad-contaminated Spodoptera frugiperda J. E. Smith (Lepidoptera:Noctuidae) larvae. A field trial was performed to compare applications of commercial granular chlorpyrifos and Spinosad in maize-flour granules (200 and 2000 ppm a.i.; 4.8-48 g a.i./ha, respectively) or as an aqueous spray (160 ppm a.i.; 48 g a.i./ha) on earwigs held inside gauze bags. Mortality of earwigs on control plants was less than 15% at 2 days postapplication compared to 33% on plants treated with granular chlorpyrifos, 83% on plants sprayed with 160 ppm Spinosad, and 91-95% on plants treated with 200-2000 ppm Spinosad granules, respectively. Further mortality in the 24-h period postsampling ranged from <5% in control treatments, to 9% in the chlorpyrifos treatment, and to 55-65% in the Spinosad spray and granule treatments. We conclude that Spinosad cannot be considered to have an environmental safety profile similar to most established biological insecticides. © 2002 Elsevier Science.

Item Type:	Article
Schools and Departments:	School of Life Sciences > Evolution, Behaviour and Environment
Depositing User:	Catrina Hey
Date Deposited:	26 Nov 2014 10:19
Last Modified:	26 Nov 2014 10:19
URI:	http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/id/eprint/51265

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