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The irritant and repellent effects of organophosphates on the Tasmanian lacewing, Micromus tasmaniae (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae)
Author(s) -
Hodge Simon,
Longley Martin
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/1526-4998(200010)56:10<916::aid-ps228>3.0.co;2-2
Subject(s) - organophosphate , chlorpyrifos , diazinon , toxicology , biology , pyrethroid , spinosad , malathion , pesticide , ecology
The irritant and repellent effects of two organophosphate insecticides, diazinon and chlorpyrifos, were examined on adults of the Tasmanian lacewing, Micromus tasmaniae , in the laboratory. Two household pyrethroid sprays were used as positive controls. The organophosphates did not induce a more rapid onset of preening, a more rapid flight from contaminated filter papers or an avoidance response in Petri dishes. A small but statistically significant avoidance of diazinon, but not chlorpyrifos, occurred when M tasmaniae were introduced onto sprayed potted bean plants. It is concluded that these two organophosphates are not intrinsically irritating or repellent to M tasmaniae and any avoidance reaction would not prevent a lethal dose from being obtained. Therefore, a decline in natural populations of M tasmaniae after application of these chemicals is likely to be due to mortality, rather than dispersal. The implications of these results with regard to using this species as a bioindicator are discussed. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry