Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Fort Lauderdale, Florida » Invasive Plant Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #374107
Research Project: Identification, Evaluation, and Implementation of Biological Control Agents for Invasive Weeds of Southeastern Ecosystems

Location: Invasive Plant Research Laboratory

Title: Acute toxicity of mosquito pesticides on weed biological control agents in South Florida, USA

Author
item Wheeler, Gregory
item Lake, Ellen
item Rayamajhi, Min
item Smith, Melissa

Submitted to: Biocontrol Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2020
Publication Date: 6/2/2020
Citation: Wheeler, G.S., Lake, E.C., Rayamajhi, M.B., Smith, M. 2020. Acute toxicity of mosquito pesticides on weed biological control agents in South Florida, USA. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 30(8):855-861. https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2020.1768220.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09583157.2020.1768220

Interpretive Summary: Mosquito pesticides effectively control vectors of human disease; but have unintended consequences such as adversely affecting non-target species including weed biological control agents. Acute toxicity of two mosquito pesticides, naled and permethrin, was studied on three agents released to control invasive weeds in south Florida. These included the biological control agent of melaleuca, the beetle, the agent for Old World climbing fern, the moth, and the agent for air potato, the leaf beetle. We calculated 50% of the lethal dose at a range of concentrations for each pesticide and herbivore species combination. The air potato herbivore was the most sensitive species tested and all were more sensitive to the pesticide permethrin than naled.

Technical Abstract: Mosquito pesticides effectively control vectors of human disease; but have unintended consequences such as adversely affecting non-target species including weed biological control agents. Acute toxicity of two mosquito pesticides, naled and permethrin, was studied on three agents released to control invasive weeds in south Florida. These included the biological control agent of melaleuca, Melaleuca quinquenervia, the beetle Oxyops vitiosa, the agent for Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum, the moth Neomusotima conspurcatalis, and the agent for air potato, Dioscorea bulbifera, the leaf beetle Lilioceris cheni. We calculated LD50 values at a range of concentrations for each pesticide and herbivore species combination. The air potato herbivore, L. cheni was the most sensitive species tested and all were more sensitive to the pesticide permethrin than naled.