EFFECTS OF INSECTICIDES ON ORIUS INSIDIOSUS (HEMIPTERA: ANTHOCORIDAE), MEASURED BY FIELD, GREENHOUSE AND PETRI DISH BIOASSAYS

Orius insidiosus (Say) is an important predator of several economic pests in cotton. Laboratory-reared males, females and third instar nymphs were exposed to residues of nine insecticides applied to cotton plants in the field, in potted plants in the greenhouse and glass Petri dishes in the laboratory. Insects were exposed for 24-hours and then removed to determine mortality. Insecticides tested were spinosad, indoxacarb, imidacloprid, tebufenozide, methoxyfenozide, abamectin, emamectin benzoate, fipronil and λ-cyhalothrin. Differences were observed in mortality as measured by different methods. Spinosad, imidacloprid and indoxacarb induced significantly higher mortality with treated Petri dishes than on treated cotton plants in the field or greenhouse. No differences in mortality were observed between methods with fipronil or λ-cyhalothrin, and in only one instance with abamectin. Spinosad was not toxic in the field or greenhouse bioassays, but was highly toxic in the Petri dish bioassay. Imidacloprid was moderately toxic in the field and greenhouse, but was highly toxic in the Petri dish bioassay. Indoxacarb had variable toxicity, with low to moderate toxicity in the field and greenhouse, and high toxicity in the Petri dish bioassay. It is apparent that multiple testing methods should be used in evaluating the effects of pesticides on beneficial arthropods.