Biological Control Laboratory I, Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore-560089, India.
The encyrtid Tetracnemoidea indica (Ayyar) is a dominant parasitoid of the oriental mealybug Planococcus lilacinus (Ckll.) on acid lime. Adult parasitoids were exposed to acid lime leaves treated with 34 pesticides at field recommended doses. Fenvalerate (0.01%) and Neem seed kernel extract (2%) were nontoxic to the adult parasitoids. All the fiingicides/acaricides tested proved to be non/less toxic to T. indica. Sixteen insecticides which showed high initial toxicity were further tested for their persistence against T. indica. The residual toxic activity of dichlorvos, endosulfan, deltamethrin and chlorpyriphos to T. indica was lost within a week. However, monocrotophos and acephate remained toxic to the parasitoid upto three weeks, and the residues of cypermethrin caused mortality of T. indica even beyond 50 days. Thus the information would contribute to plan the pest management programme on acid lime.
