Combination of the Parasitoid <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker and Chemical Pesticides for the Control of <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett)
<i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker, a pupal parasitoid of the alien invasive pest <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett), causes 33% host mortality. This study assessed whether combining <i>S. endius</i> with insecticides (abamectin, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, emame...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/716 |
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| author | Lei Li Dongyin Han Jing Zhao Haiyan Qiu Fangping Zhang Zhengpei Ye Yueguan Fu |
| author_facet | Lei Li Dongyin Han Jing Zhao Haiyan Qiu Fangping Zhang Zhengpei Ye Yueguan Fu |
| author_sort | Lei Li |
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| description | <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker, a pupal parasitoid of the alien invasive pest <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett), causes 33% host mortality. This study assessed whether combining <i>S. endius</i> with insecticides (abamectin, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, emamectin benzoate, or beta-cypermethrin)—all effective against <i>Z. cucurbitae</i>—could enhance control efficacy. Among these, abamectin was the least toxic to adult <i>S. endius</i>. Surface contact treatments with 12 and 15 mg a.i./kg of abamectin did not significantly increase <i>S. endius</i> mortality. However, mixing 12 mg a.i./kg of abamectin into a honey solution to encourage ingestion decreased the survival, parasitism, and fecundity of <i>S. endius</i>. In olfactometer assays, <i>S. endius</i> adults avoided abamectin-treated host pupae, though prior exposure to abamectin mitigated this avoidance. The timing of abamectin soil application relative to host pupation and <i>S. endius</i> release affects host mortality. The most effective timing is spraying abamectin before host pupation (to expose <i>Z. cucurbitae</i> larvae) and then releasing <i>S. endius</i>. Field trials confirmed that combining abamectin (12 mg a.i./kg) with <i>S. endius</i> increased host mortality more than either treatment alone. In conclusion, abamectin (12 mg a.i./kg) is a suitable insecticide for combination with <i>S. endius</i> to control <i>Z. cucurbitae.</i> The application sequence should be spraying abamectin before hosts pupate and, only after that, releasing the parasitoid. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73d3ace6d77c45caabeb7a0a4f1615c7 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-73d3ace6d77c45caabeb7a0a4f1615c72025-08-20T03:08:09ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-07-0116771610.3390/insects16070716Combination of the Parasitoid <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker and Chemical Pesticides for the Control of <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett)Lei Li0Dongyin Han1Jing Zhao2Haiyan Qiu3Fangping Zhang4Zhengpei Ye5Yueguan Fu6Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Sciences, Haikou 571101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Sciences, Haikou 571101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Sciences, Haikou 571101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Sciences, Haikou 571101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Sciences, Haikou 571101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Sciences, Haikou 571101, ChinaKey Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Tropical Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Environment and Plant Protection Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Sciences, Haikou 571101, China<i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker, a pupal parasitoid of the alien invasive pest <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett), causes 33% host mortality. This study assessed whether combining <i>S. endius</i> with insecticides (abamectin, thiamethoxam, nitenpyram, emamectin benzoate, or beta-cypermethrin)—all effective against <i>Z. cucurbitae</i>—could enhance control efficacy. Among these, abamectin was the least toxic to adult <i>S. endius</i>. Surface contact treatments with 12 and 15 mg a.i./kg of abamectin did not significantly increase <i>S. endius</i> mortality. However, mixing 12 mg a.i./kg of abamectin into a honey solution to encourage ingestion decreased the survival, parasitism, and fecundity of <i>S. endius</i>. In olfactometer assays, <i>S. endius</i> adults avoided abamectin-treated host pupae, though prior exposure to abamectin mitigated this avoidance. The timing of abamectin soil application relative to host pupation and <i>S. endius</i> release affects host mortality. The most effective timing is spraying abamectin before host pupation (to expose <i>Z. cucurbitae</i> larvae) and then releasing <i>S. endius</i>. Field trials confirmed that combining abamectin (12 mg a.i./kg) with <i>S. endius</i> increased host mortality more than either treatment alone. In conclusion, abamectin (12 mg a.i./kg) is a suitable insecticide for combination with <i>S. endius</i> to control <i>Z. cucurbitae.</i> The application sequence should be spraying abamectin before hosts pupate and, only after that, releasing the parasitoid.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/716melon flypupal parasitoidabamectintoxicity |
| spellingShingle | Lei Li Dongyin Han Jing Zhao Haiyan Qiu Fangping Zhang Zhengpei Ye Yueguan Fu Combination of the Parasitoid <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker and Chemical Pesticides for the Control of <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett) Insects melon fly pupal parasitoid abamectin toxicity |
| title | Combination of the Parasitoid <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker and Chemical Pesticides for the Control of <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett) |
| title_full | Combination of the Parasitoid <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker and Chemical Pesticides for the Control of <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett) |
| title_fullStr | Combination of the Parasitoid <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker and Chemical Pesticides for the Control of <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Combination of the Parasitoid <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker and Chemical Pesticides for the Control of <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett) |
| title_short | Combination of the Parasitoid <i>Spalangia endius</i> Walker and Chemical Pesticides for the Control of <i>Zeugodacus cucurbitae</i> (Coquillett) |
| title_sort | combination of the parasitoid i spalangia endius i walker and chemical pesticides for the control of i zeugodacus cucurbitae i coquillett |
| topic | melon fly pupal parasitoid abamectin toxicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/716 |
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