Safety evaluation of insecticides to the lady beetle, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), a major predator of mealybugs

摘要

The present experiment was aimed at safety evaluation of different insecticides to Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, a major predator of mealybugs. In order to understand the impact of chemical insecticides on this predator, different bioassays were carried out. The results of the study showed that the Percent mortality of C. montrouzieri at 24 HAT was highest in profenophos 50% EC (49.33%) followed by thiamethoxam (36.00%) and dinotefuran (30.67%). However, azadirachtin, buprofezin and pymetrozine were found comparatively safer insecticide to C. montrouzieri . Therefore, both of these insecticides, need to be evaluated further under different agro-climatic zones to confirm their suitability, for mealybug management in cotton ecosystem without adversely affecting the performance of C. montrouzieri .