Side Effects of Some Pesticides on Predator Bug Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) is a zoophytophagous mirid known as a potential biological control agent of whiteflies and Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). This predator is widely used in integrated pest management programs in greenhouses. In this study, side effects of four pesticides including pymetrozin, abamectin chlorantraniliprole, mancozeb and iprodion carbendazim on survival and number of offspring N. tenuis were evaluated. Adults of predators exposed to the pesticides through residual and oral routes simultaneously. None of the pesticides except abamectin chlorantraniliprole cause significant mortality on predator but all of them were affected the number of offspring. The highest reduction in fertility was related to abamectin chlorantraniliprole (92.5%). Iprodion carbendazim (43.22%), pymetrozin (37.44%) and mancozeb (17.14%) were next in rank, respectively. Toxicity of pesticides was calculated based on the reduction coefficient, Ex. According to IOBC classification abamectin chlorantraniliprole was moderately harmful, pymetrozin and iprodion carbendazim were slightly harmful and mancozeb was harmless.