The Sublethal Effects of a Systemic Insecticide on the Vine Mealybug Parasitoids Anagyrus sp. near pseudococci (Girault) and Coccidoxenoides perminutus (Timberlake) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae)

Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide used for the control of the vine mealybug Planococcus ficus.
However, biological control of P. ficus is the primary alternate management method recommended for the
integrated control of this pest. We therefore aimed to establish the detrimental effects on the development
of Anagyrus. sp. near pseudococci and Coccidoxenoides perminutus feeding on imidacloprid-contaminated
vine mealybugs as indicated by the subsequent emergence and survival of the F₁ generation. The results
imply that A. sp. near pseudococci and C. perminutus were equally susceptible to imidacloprid, based on
probit analysis. However, survival was significantly different between the control and insecticide treatment
for C. perminutus (χ² = 23.80; d.f. = 3; p < 0.001), but not for A. sp. near pseudococci (χ² = 5.07; d.f. = 3; p
= 0.17). As this study was laboratory based, the effect of imidacloprid on populations of parasitoids in the
field should be assessed further. Treatment recommendations to minimise the impact on parasitoids are
discussed briefly.