Effects of different insecticides on life stages of Planococcus citri Risso (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract: This study was conducted to detect the effect of some insecticides against different life stages (egg and nymph) of Planococcus citri Risso (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), a harmful pest on citrus plantations in recent years. Five different active substances (summer oil, Imidacloprid, Chlorpyrifos-ethyl, Buprofezin, Spirotetramat) were used in the study. Abbot and Henderson Tilton analyses were used to evaluate results. All used insecticides had negative effect on hatching of eggs. Buprofezin (68.4%) and Spirotetramat (71.2%) have lesser effect on it than the others. Although summer oil showed its effect shorter time than Imidacloprid and Chlorpyrifos-ethyl, the three insecticides caused 100% mortality on eggs. The number of eggs in eggs masses decreased with Buprofezin (93.0) and Spirotetramat (77.6) compared with the control (110.8). Nymph stage experiments were carried out for seven days. At the end of this period all insecticides caused 100% mortality. All nymphs died within three days for Buprofezin and Chlorpyrifos-ethyl and seven days for summer oil, Imidacloprid and Spirotetramat. When comparing the insecticides, summer oil and chlorpyrifos ethyl look a better control option than the others for citrus mealybug. However, their effects on biological control agents and non-target organism should be determined for a better decision.