Effects of methoxyfenozide on Lobesia botrana Den & Schiff (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) egg, larval and adult stages

The effect of the non‐steroidal ecdysone agonist methoxyfenozide was evaluated against different developmental stages of the grape berry moth, Lobesia botrana Dennis & Schiffermuller (Lep, Tortricidae). Methoxyfenozide administered orally reduced the fecundity and fertility of adults treated with 1, 5 and 10 mg litre −1 ; longevity was not affected. An LC 50 value of 4.5 mg litre −1 was obtained when applied to eggs of less than 1 day old. Surface treatment was more effective than when applied by spraying. Administered into the diet, methoxyfenozide had a larvicidal effect; older larvae were more susceptible than younger larvae, with LC 50 values of 0.1 mg litre −1 for L 1 , 0.04 for L 3 and 0.02 for L 5 . Larvae treated with sub‐lethal doses throughout their lives did not emerge as adults at the highest doses (0.08, 0.04, 0.02 and 0.01 mg litre −1 ), with 65% and 40% emergence occurring for the lowest (0.005 and 0.0025 mg litre −1 ). Mortality occurred only in the larval stage. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry