Compatibility of insect growth regulators with Eretmocerus eremicus (Hymenoptera : Aphelinidae) for whitefly (Homoptera : Aleyrodidae) control on poinsettias

The compatibility of five insect growth regulators (IGRs), buprofezin, pyri proxyfen, fenoxycarb, pymetrozine, and kinoprene, were tested in the labora tory for compatibility with the whitefly parasitoid Eretmocerus eremicus Ro se and Zolnerowich (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). The survivorship of adult pa rasitoids foraging on poinsettia leaves with residues 6, 24, and 96 h of ag e was determined. The toxicity of Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) patches treated with IGRs presented to female para sitoids 24 and 96 h posttreatment was quantified. survivorship of immature E. erenticus developing within B. argentifolii nymphs was determined by tre ating whitefly nymphs with IGRs 5 and 13 days postoviposition by female par asitoids. Finally, behavioral observations of female parasitoids foraging o n IGR-treated and untreated B. argentifolii patches presented simultaneousl y were quantified to determine whether IGR residues had a repellant effect toward E. eremicus. Averaging ranks for IGSRs based on their compatibility with E. eremicus and their ability to kill B. argentifolii nymphs produced the following parasitoid compatibility order: buprofezin > fenoxycarb > pym etrozine = pyriproxyfen > kinoprene. Further work in greenhouses assessing the efficacy of buprofezin with E. eremicus for B. argentifolii control on poinsettias is recommended. (C) 2000 Academic Press.