Novartis Crop Protection Australasia Pty. Ltd.
Integrated pest management (IPM) has become a focus for farmers, particularly in cotton and horticulture, where large volumes of insecticides are often used to grow high yielding crops. Selective insecticides are needed to provide effective control of pests, whilst allowing the maintenance of beneficial populations and other non-target species. Emamectin is a new generation avermectin, that is extremely active on target pests (Helicoverpa spp., Tetranychus spp. and Plutella xyostella) at low rates. Its translaminar activity provides residual activity against foliage feeding insects, yet surface residues degrade rapidly, providing a low hazard environment for beneficials. Field and laboratory studies have been conducted on a wide range of beneficial species relevant to both cotton and horticulture. These are summarised below. Overall, the selectivity of emamectin that has been displayed in these trials makes it a useful tool in IPM systems.
Hazard ratings are based on disruption to populations up to 24 hours after application:
|
Very low disruption |
<10% population reduction |
|
Low disruption |
10 – 20 % population reduction |
|
Moderate disruption |
20 – 40% population reduction |
|
High to very high disruption |
>40% population reduction |
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the following people for their contribution to this poster; C. McRae, C. van der Hoven, B.Sechser, S. Ayoub, N. Monir, L. Wilson, D. Lally, J. Lytton-Hitchins, M. Jeffs, M. Keller, G. Simpson, R. Lloyd, D. Murray, G. Collett, R. Litzow, D. Harvey, D. Cox, K. Lewis, D. Kilpatrick.
Beneficial species |
Common name |
Helps to control |
Effect from use of EMAMECTIN |
Hazard rating |
Aphidoletes aphidimyza* |
Aphid midge/ Gall-midge |
Aphids |
No effect on populations exposed to three hour aged residues, high mortality rates (80%) directly after application. |
|
Apis mellifera # |
Honey bees |
- |
No effect on populations 24 hours after application, high mortality rates (100%) directly after application. |
|
Araneidae |
Spiders |
Heliothis |
Little effect on populations up to 13 days after application. |
|
Campylomma liebknechti |
Apple dimpling bug |
Mites |
Suppression of populations, particularly larvae, up to 10 days after application. |
|
Carabidae |
Ground beetles |
Caterpillars, Cutworms, Snails, Slugs |
Little effect on populations. |
|
Coccinellidae |
Ladybirds |
Aphids, Mites, Heliothis, Scales, Mealybugs |
No effect on populations exposed to one hour aged residues, low mortality rates (10%) directly after application. |
|
Cotesia spp. (several studies, some field, some laboratory) |
Cabbage white butterfly parasite/ Parasitic wasp |
Diamondback moth, Cabbage white butterfly, Cabbage looper |
No effect on populations exposed to two hour aged residues. |
|
Diadegma insularis* |
Parasitoid |
Diamondback moth |
Little effect on populations exposed to 15 hour aged residues, higher mortality rates directly after application (50% at 1 h). |
|
Dicranolaius bellulus |
Red and blue beetle |
Heliothis |
Little effect on populations up to 13 days after application. |
|
Diglyphus begini |
Leafminer parasite |
Leafminer, Heliothis |
Little effect on populations exposed to 15 hour aged residues, higher mortality rates directly after application (50% at 1 h). |
|
Diglyphus isaea* |
Parasitic wasp |
Leafminer |
Up to 20% mortality after exposure to 36 hour aged residues. |
|
Formicidae |
Ants |
Heliothis |
No effect on populations. |
|
Predatory Hemiptera |
Various spp. |
Heliothis, Aphids, Apple dimpling bug, Mites, Thrips |
Little effect on populations. Variation between species has been noted. |
|
Metaseiulus occidentalis* |
Western predatory mite |
Two-spotted mite, Tomato russet mite |
No effect on populations exposed to three hour aged residues, high mortality rates (80%) directly after application. |
|
Microgaster spp. |
Parasitoid wasp |
Codling moth, Leafrollers |
No effect on activity after field application. |
|
Microhymenoptera |
Various families |
Heliothis |
No effect on populations within the first week after application. |
|
Neuroptera |
Lacewings |
Aphids, Mites |
Little effect on populations; may cause suppression of larvae. |
|
Paederus spp. |
Rove beetles |
Caterpillars, Cutworms, Snails, Slugs |
No effect on populations for up to 20 days after application. |
|
Podisus maculiventris* |
Spined soldier bug |
Caterpillars, Beetles |
Little effect on populations exposed to four hour aged residues. |
|
Pteromalus puparus |
Cabbage white butterfly pupal parasite |
Cabbage white butterfly |
No effect on populations exposed to two hour aged residues, higher mortality rates (30%) directly after application. |
|
Trichogramma sp. |
Minute wasp |
Heliothis |
No effect on populations exposed to nine hour aged residues, higher mortality rates (18%) directly after application. |
|
Note: Predatory Hemiptera consist of Deraeocoris spp., Orius sp., Geocoris sp., Nabis sp., Reduviidae, Cermatulus spp. and Oechelia spp. * Denotes overseas studies. # Denotes laboratory studies.
