The use of potter tower laboratory bioassays in determining the efficiency of several soft insecticides against a range of representative insect and mite pests

Abstract

The insecticides Mavrik Aquaflow, Yates Pyrethrum, Azatin, Evisect S, Naturalis-L, Delfin WG, Thuricide and Confidor were tested against lightbrown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana; diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella; greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (nymphs and adults); pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum; New Zealand flower thrips, Thrips obsuratus; and the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae (adults and larvae) populations, under laboratory conditions.

Lightbrown apple moth and diamondback moth, first instar larvae, were effectively controlled by Mavrik Aquaflow, Yates Pyrethrum, Evisect S, Delfin WG and Thuricide application. Confidor also gave effective control to lightbrown apple moth, as did Azatin's application to the diamondback moth. All of the insecticides (except Azatin and the Bacillus thuringiensis based products) effectively controlled adult New Zealand flower thrips. However, only Mavlik Aquaflow effectively controlled the adult and larval twospotted spider mite, while Mavrik Aquaflow, Azatin, Evisect Sand Confidor applications significantly controlled the nymphal pea aphid and adult greenhouse whitefly populations. Adverse developmental effects to the nymph of the greenhouse whitefly were also seen with both the application of Azatin and Confidor.

No test insect species obtained effective mortality control from the application of Naturalis-L over the 48 hour assessment period.