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The effect of five insecticides on the predators Coccinella septempunctata and Hippodamia variegata

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Abstract

The coccinellids Coccinella septempunctata L. and Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) are two native predators in Greece as well as very important biological control agents against aphids for many crops. The conservation of these predators in IPM approaches requires knowledge of the toxicity and the effects of insecticides on their biological characters. In the present study, the effects of five insecticides (kaolin, mineral oil, insecticidal soap, pymetrozine and imidacloprid) on the mortality, developmental time and consumption of fourth instar larvae of C. septempunctata and H. variegata were studied under laboratory conditions. Kaolin, insecticidal soap and pymetrozine were harmless to the last instar larvae of C. septempunctata and H. variegata whereas imidacloprid was moderate toxic. We concluded that kaolin, insecticidal soap and pymetrozine could be incorporated into IPM programs in combination with the two predator species studied.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Katerina Zouvelou and Chara Tsekoura for their assistance with the laboratory work.

Funding

This research is implemented through IKY scholarships programme and co-financed by the European Union (European Social Fund - ESF) and Greek national funds through the action entitled “Reinforcement of Postdoctoral Researchers”, in the framework of the Operational Programme “Human Resources Development Program, Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) 2014–2020.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology and Zoology, Department of Agricultural Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese, 24 100 – Antikalamos, Kalamata, Greece

    Panagiotis J. Skouras, George J. Stathas & Giannis Louloudakis

  2. Laboratory of Plant Protection Products, Department of Agricultural Technology, Technological Educational Institute of Peloponnese, 24 100 – Antikalamos, Kalamata, Greece

    Vasilios Demopoulos

  3. Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Industrial and Fodder Crops, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DEMETER” – NAGREF, Volos, Greece

    John T. Margaritopoulos

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  1. Panagiotis J. Skouras
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  2. George J. Stathas
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  3. Vasilios Demopoulos
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  4. Giannis Louloudakis
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Correspondence to Panagiotis J. Skouras.

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Skouras, P.J., Stathas, G.J., Demopoulos, V. et al. The effect of five insecticides on the predators Coccinella septempunctata and Hippodamia variegata. Phytoparasitica 47, 197–205 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-019-00731-4

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