The lethal effect of three insecticides, buprofezin, pyriproxyfen and chlorpyrifos, on the citrus mealybug Planococcus citri and the heather ladybird Chilocorus bipustulatus

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Plant Protection, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran

Abstract

Using low-risk insecticides for pest management is an efficient approach to preserving natural enemies. In this study the effects of two insect growth regulators (IGRs), buprofezin and pyriproxyfen, in comparison with the widely used organophosphorus insecticide chlorpyrifos were investigated against the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri and the heather ladybird, Chilocorus bipustulatus. The citrus mealybug bioassay was conducted using residual methods, while the ladybird predator bioassay was performed through both residual and host-treated approaches. Based on the assay results, a comparative bioassay was also conducted to determine safe concentrations for the natural enemy. The LC50 values ​​of buprofezin, pyriproxyfen, and chlorpyrifos, on second instar nymphs of citrus mealybug were 71.4, 57.3, and 1.89 mg ai/L, respectively. The bioassay of chlorpyrifos on C. bipustulatus first instar larvae indicated that this insecticide is highly lethal to this natural enemy and a concentration of 2 mg ai/L, approximately 400 times lower than the common field dose of chlorpyrifos, resulted in about 73% mortality. The mortality rates of buprofezin at concentrations of 120 and 300 mg ai/L on ladybird larvae after four days were 32% and 56%, respectively. For pyriproxyfen, the lethality at concentrations of 30 and 75 mg ai/L was 32% and 47%, respectively. The comparative bioassays indicated that chlorpyrifos has sever adverse effects on the heather ladybird survival and the field doses of both IGR insecticides were not completely safe for this predator, however pyriproxyfen caused less detrimental effects than buprofezin.

Keywords

References

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Plant Pest Research
Volume 15, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 31-45

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History

  • Receive Date: 13 July 2025
  • Revise Date: 20 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 25 August 2025

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