Effects of pesticide deposit pattern on rate of contact and mortality of Aphytis holoxanthus (Hymenoptera : Aphelinidae)

A laboratory study was designed to determine the pesticide droplets deposit ion on leaf surfaces and its effect on parasite behavior and mortality. The rate of parasite/deposit contact increased as the number of deposits incre ased, even though total volume of deposit remained constant. The bioassay r esults indicated that mean percent mortality of Aphytis holoxanthus in the carbaryl treatment was highest on leaf discs with smaller and more abundant deposits than larger and fewer deposits.