Comparative study about the sublethal effects of chemical and botanical insecticides on the functional response of Habrobracon hebetor Say (Hym.: Braconidae) to larvae of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lep.: Pyralidae) (original) (raw)

In this research, we evaluated sublethal effects of five commercial insecticides of fenvalerate, propargite, buprofezin, dayabon and palizin which are used in chemical control of target pests of Habrobracon hebetor Say (an idiobiont and gregarious ectoparasitoid), on the functional response of this important biocontrol agent. First, 80 mated females of H. hebetor were treated by LC 30 of selected insecticides for 24 h. Then, among them six wasps were selected and introduced to different densities of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller larvae (flour moth, an economical stored pest of cereals) for 24 h. The regression analyses based on Holling model indicated the functional response type II in the control, palizin and buprofezin and type III in fenvalerate, propargite and dayabon. Moreover, the highest and lowest attack rates were obtained in palizin and fenvalerate treatments, respectively. In addition, the treated wasps by dayabon and fenvalerate showed the shortest and longest handling times, respectively. Accordingly, palizin and dayabon due to the lowest negative effects on H. hebetor are compatible insecticides for combination with this biocontrol agent in integrated pest management.