Biosafety of pesticides and entomopathogens to the anthocorid predator Blaptostethus pallescens Poppius (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae)

Abstract

Laboratory experiments conducted to study the biosafety of insecticides, acaricides and entomopathogens viz. imidacloprid, chlorpyriphos, fenazaquin, spiromesifen, azadirachtin, Beauveria bassiana and Lecanicillium lecanii in different concentrations to Blaptostethus pallescens, revealed that imidacloprid and chlorpyriphos were highly toxic with maximum mortality. The acaricides fenazaquin and spiromesifen were less toxic which recorded minimum mortality of predator and more egg laying and hatching. Azadirachtin showed higher oviposition and was on par with spiromesifen. Azadirachtin and acaricides are compatible with B. pallescens than entomopathogens.