Selectivity of Insecticides to Beneficial Insect

Insecticides not only kill the pest insects but also badly affect their natural enemies. Chrysopid larvae are useful predators of various economically important insect pests like aphid, jassid, white fly etc. Toxicity of six insecticides viz., Talstar10EC (Bifenthrin), Endosulfan35EC (Thiodan), Trebon30EC (Etofenprox), Confidor200SL (Imidachloprid), Polo 500SC (Diafenthiuron) and Monocrotophos 40 WSC (Monocrotophos) and two control treatments, replicated thrice, each with two concentrations C1=0.025% and C2= 0.05% was observed against cotton jassid and its predator Chrysoperla carnea (Steph.). Each pesticide was applied @ 1.4 ml on third instar larvae of the predator and known number of jassids with Pottar Spray Tower in three different modes. The experiment was laid out in CRD in the lab. It was found that Monocrotophos and Talstar were highly toxic giving 96-100% and 80-90% kill of the predatory larvae, respectively. Confidor and Endosulfan were proved moderately toxic while Polo and Trebon found to be somewhat selective in their use against the predator. However, all the insecticides effectively controlled cotton jassid.

Mr. Ijaz Haider is currently working as Research Officer, Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku, Pakistan. Work experience as in charge biological control programmes in couple of organizations. Areas of interest: Biological control, Use of pheromones in IPM, Toxicology, Breeding of crops for resistance to insects. Have more than 15 publications.