Laboratory toxicity of a photo activated dye mixture to six species of beneficial insects

The toxicity of a mixture of two photoactive dyes, Phloxine B and Uranine, was determined for six species of beneficial insects in the laboratory. The dye had no measurable contact toxicity to any test insect. The dye, when mixed in protein baits, was significantly more toxic than the bait alone to Chrysopa carnea Stephens, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant, Delphastes pusillus Le Conte and Goniozus legneri (Gordh). The toxicity of all dye and bait mixtures was significantly less to all test insects than that of the malathion and bait mixtures. Substituting the dye mixture for malathion in protein bait sprays used to eradicate exotic fruit flies from the United States should significantly reduce the kill of non‐target beneficial insects.