Entomotoxic effect of nanoparticles of Zn-TiO2-Ag against oleander aphid, Aphis nerii

In recent years noble metal nanoparticles have been the subjects of focused researches due to their unique electronic, mechanical and chemical properties that are significantly different from those of bulk materials. Improvements in nanotechnology in the past decayed has created various opportunities for evaluation of biologic effects such as insecticidal effects of nanoparticles. In this research, nanoparticles of 70%Zn-28%TiO2-2%Ag and 70%Zn-29%TiO2-1%Ag were synthesized through a solvothermal method and the insecticidal activity of Zn-TiO2-Ag nanoparticles and imidacloprid against the A. nerii was investigated. Results of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that these nanoparticles are approximately spherical with the diameter varying 48 and 49 nm, respectively. In this experiment, the LC50 value for 70%Zn-28%TiO2-2%Ag, 70%Zn- 29%TiO2-1%Ag and imidacloprid were calculated to be 476.74, 528.51 and 0.66, respectively. These results demonstrated that these nanoparticles have insecticidal effect on A. nerii. Additionally, the study showed that imidacloprid at 1 μl/ml and nanoparticles at 700 mg/ml had the highest insect mortality effect.