Physiologic selectivity of inseticides to wasps predators of the coffee leafminer

The selectivity of the insecticides chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, dimethoate, ethion, monocrothophos and permethrin to the predatory wasps Apoica pallen s Feb., Brachygastra lecheguana Latreille and Polistes versicolor versicolo r Olivier (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) was studied, in laboratory, using 50% and 100% of the dosages used for controlling the coffee leafminer, Perileucopt era coffeella Guerin-Meneville (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae). Deltamethrin was selective in favour of P. versicolor versicolor and A. pallens. Ethion sho wed median selectivity in favour of P. versicolor versicolor and A, pallens and good selectivity to B. lecheguana. The other insecticides were not sel ective in favour of the predatory wasps. The order of tolerance to deltamet hrin was: P. versicolor versicolor > A. pallens > B. lecheguana. To ethion, the order was: B. lecheguana > P. versicolor versicolor >A. pallens. Chlor pyrifos, deltamethrin, dimethoate, monocrothophos and permethrin presented similar toxicity to the wasps in both dosages used. On the other hand ethio n reduced its impact on A. pallens and P. versicolor versicolor when applie d in subdosages.