Influence of synthetic insecticide use on sucking pest communities in Bt cotton ecosystems

Flonicamid was particularly effective against leafhoppers, followed by dinotefuran and imidacloprid. Flonicamid and spinetoram exhibited similar effectiveness against thrips outperforming dinotefuran and imidacloprid. Whitefly populations were most effectively reduced by flonicamid, followed by diafenthiuron and pyriproxyfen. Aphid control was also most successful with flonicamid, followed by dinotefuran, imidacloprid, and diafenthiuron. While all insecticides negatively impacted natural enemy populations, Spinetoram and Flonicamid had a relatively milder effect. Flonicamid not only provided excellent pest control but also gave the highest seed cotton yield. Dinotefuran, however, offered the most favourable cost-benefit ratio, followed by imidacloprid and flonicamid.