Insecticidal toxicity of Sivanto® and Oberon Speed® for controlling sugarcane whitefly, Neomaskellia andropogonis (Hem.: Aleyrodidae) in laboratory conditions

Sugarcane whitefly, Neomaskellia andropogonis Corbett (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) is one of the important pests of sugarcane fields in Iran. In this study, the efficacy of two new insecticides including Sivanto® and Oberon Speed® was evaluated for controlling different life stages of whitefly on IRC99-02 and CP69-1062 sugarcane varieties under laboratory conditions. The concentrations of 20, 60, 100, 200, and 400 ppm of two insecticides were applied using leaf dipping method. The highest concentration of Sivanto® (400 ppm) caused 67.9% mortality on whitefly eggs in IRC99-02 variety; while Oberon Speed® did not show much ovicidal activity. Sivanto® effectively controlled the adult’s stage and the highest mortality percentage (90%) was observed at 400 ppm in IRC99-02 variety of sugarcane. While at the same concentration, Oberon Speed® caused 60 and 70% mortality in IRC99-02 and CP69-1062 varieties, respectively. Both insecticides were effectively controlled whitefly nymphs and pupae. Our results indicated that both of the insecticides had high toxicity on sugarcane whitefly. Also, parasitoid wasps were compatible with the insecticides and applied insecticides did not negatively affect their parasitism activity.