Determining effects of insecticides on performance of Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja and Trichogramma chilonis ishii under laboratory conditions

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of various newer insecticides on the performance of two species of Trichogramma parasitoids, Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja and Trichogramma chilonis Ishii, under laboratory conditions. Specifically, the research focused on assessing the impact of these insecticides on mortality of adult parasitoids using the film residue method. A total of 13 insecticide treatments were tested, including compounds like Fenpyroximate, Afidopyropen, Spiromesifen, and Azadirachtin, with water serving as a control. The experiments were conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. The results indicated that Azadirachtin, Chlorantraniliprole, and Flubendiamide were the safest insecticides for both T. bactrae and T. chilonis, showing minimal effects on adult mortality. Conversely, insecticides like Thiamethoxam + Lambda-cyhalothrin and Beta-cyfluthrin + Imidacloprid were found to be highly detrimental. Whereas Fenpyroximate, Afidopyropen, Spiromesifen were found to be slightly harmful to the adults. This research highlights the importance of selecting compatible insecticides for use in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs that incorporate Trichogramma species, ensuring effective pest control while preserving these beneficial parasitoids.