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Title: Sucrose octanoate toxicity to the Brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy)(Homoptera: Aphididae) and the parasitoid, Lysephlebus testeciepes

Author
item McKenzie, Cindy
item Weathersbee Iii, Albert
item Hunter, Wayne
item Puterka, Gary

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2004
Publication Date: 9/1/2004
Citation: McKenzie, C.L., Weathersbee, A.A. III, Hunter, W.B., Puterka, G.J. 2004. Sucrose octanoate toxicity to the Brown citrus aphid, Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) (Homoptera: Aphididae) and the parasitoid, Lysiphlebus testaceipes. Journal of Economic Entomology. 97(4):1233-1238.

Interpretive Summary: The brown citrus aphid (BrCA) is a serious pest of citrus that invaded Florida in 1995 and has become a significant pest by causing direct damage to citrus and vectoring citrus tristeza virus. We evaluated a synthetic analogue of sucrose octanaote found in leaf trichomes of wild tobacco to determine its efficacy as a potential compound for use in an IPM program aimed at controlling BrCA in citrus and to describe potentially negative effects on its native parasitoid, Lysiphlebus testaceipes. Sucrose octanoate topically applied was equally toxic to BrCA adults and nymphs with very low lethal concentration values needed for high mortality. Mortalities of both stages did not differ significantly over time during the 3 to 24 h sampling period. Dry residues of sucrose octanoate exhibited similar levels of toxicity to both nymphs and adults. Mortality ranged from 60 to 70% at 6000 ppm 4 h after exposure. L. testaceipes was not harmed by treatments as high as 4000 ppm of sucrose octanoate as long as the parasitoid had mummified prior to treatment. Based on these results, sucrose octanoate would be a useful biorational in citrus IPM programs.

Technical Abstract: The brown citrus aphid (BrCA), Toxoptera citricida (Kirkaldy) is a serious pest of citrus that invaded Florida in 1995 and has become a significant pest by causing direct damage to citrus and vectoring citrus tristeza virus. Few alternatives to conventional insecticides are available, thus, we report the toxicological effects of a new biorational, synthetic sucrose octanoate (AVA Chemical Ventures, Portsmouth, NH) on the BrCA nymph and adults and to its native parasitoid, Lysiphlebus testaceipes. Sucrose octanoate topically applied was equally toxic to BrCA adults and nymphs with LC50 and LC90 values ranging from 428 to 514 and 1029 to 1420 ppm, respectively. Mortalities of both stages did not differ significantly over time during the 3 to 24 h sampling period. Dry residues of sucrose octanoate exhibited similar levels of toxicity to both nymphs and adults. Mortality ranged from 60 to 70% at 6000 ppm 4 h after exposure. L. testaceipes was not harmed by treatments as high as 4000 ppm of sucrose octanoate as long as the parasitoid had mummified prior to treatment. Based on these results, sucrose octanoate would be a useful biorational in citrus IPM programs.