Efficacy of Insecticides against the Invasive Apricot Aphid, <i>Myzus mumecola</i>

The invasive apricot aphid (<i>Myzus mumecola</i> Matsumura) is an important pest of apricot trees (<i>Prunus armeniaca</i> L.). In the presented study, laboratory bioassays using treated leaf disks of apricot were conducted to test the efficacy of twelve insecticides accordi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Dania H. Tabet, Edoardo Visentin, Martina Bonadio, Marko Bjeljac, Yazmid Reyes-Domínguez, Andreas Gallmetzer, Urban Spitaler
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/9/746
Description
Summary:The invasive apricot aphid (<i>Myzus mumecola</i> Matsumura) is an important pest of apricot trees (<i>Prunus armeniaca</i> L.). In the presented study, laboratory bioassays using treated leaf disks of apricot were conducted to test the efficacy of twelve insecticides according to the maximum field dose. Additionally, dose-response curves were established for selected insecticides, and the effects on colony development were evaluated. Furthermore, a field trial was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of commonly used insecticides in apricot cultivation. The dose-response curves showed LC<sub>50</sub> values ranging from 0.08 mg/L for flupyradifurone, 0.15 mg/L for acetamiprid, 0.70 mg/L for etofenprox, 1.89 mg/L for sulfoxaflor, 2.64 mg/L for pirimicarb, 3.97 mg/L for deltamethrin, up to 6.79 mg/L for tau-fluvalinate. These aforementioned insecticides resulted in mortality rates ranging from 95 to 100% at the field dose. Azadirachtin, flonicamid, and pyrethrins showed mortality rates of 27 to 45%. Spirotetramat reduced the colony development and decreased the number of infested shoots by 86%. Spinosad, which is not recommended against aphids, showed minimal impact; reducing the number of exuviae in nymphs in the colony development bioassay. It can be concluded that the majority of the tested insecticides are effective against <i>M. mumecola</i>.
ISSN:2075-4450