Effect of azadirachtin on the control of Anticarsia gemmatalis and its impact on Trichogramma pretiosum

Anticarsia gemmatalis has great potential to reduce soybean productivity, and the egg parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum is a major agent in the biological control of this pest in soybean fields. We show that azadirachtin is able to control velvetbean caterpillars in soybean plants and also that it has no effects on the parasitoid T. pretiosum. Soybean plants were sprayed with solutions containing control (water), 50 and 100 mg. l −1 of azadirachtin (AzaMax™ 12 g a.i. l −1 ). Third instar larvae of A. gemmatalis were confined to soybean plants after the spraying. Leaf consumption and larval mortality of A. gemmatalis were evaluated. Newly emerged females of T. pretiosum were placed for 24 h in tubes with a piece of cardboard containing the same doses of azadirachtin used against velvetbean caterpillars. After 24 h, cardboard with 20 eggs of A. gemmatalis was offered for parasitism during 24 h, and the emergence and sex ratio of progenies were determined. Azadirachtin at 50 or 100 mg. l −1 reduced leaf consumption and caused 100% mortality in A. gemmatalis larva. Azadirachtin did not negatively affect the parasitism, emergence or sex ratio of the progeny. This indicates that the product can be used with mass release of T. pretiosum to control A. gemmatalis .