Citrus Mealybug: Effect of Pesticide Residues on Adults of the Natural Enemy Complex12

Four parasites of the citrus mealybug, Planococcus citri (Risso), which included Pauridia peregrina Timberlake, Leptomastix dactylopii Howard, Leptomastidea abnormis (Girault), and Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault) and 2 predators Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant and Sympherobius barberi (Banks) were exposed for 24 h to pesticide residues on leaves of commercially treated citrus in Texas. L. abnormis and P. peregrina were the most susceptible species tested while C. montrouzieri was the most tolerant. Pesticides tested included methidathion, carbophenothion, azinphosmethyl, chlorobenzilate, ethion, and citrus oil. The toxic residual activity of azinphosmethyl-oil combination gave the highest natural enemy mortality over a 35-day posttreatment period, while a chlorobenzilate-oil combination resulted in the lowest mortality.