Toxicity of recommended insecticides for the tomato culture on Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The biological control and use of insecticides need to be compatible in order to preserve the community of insects that is beneficial for the production system. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the alterations of biological characteristics of Trichogramma pretiossum Riley, 1879 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), when submitted to the parasitism of Anagasta kuehniella eggs (Zeller, 1879) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) treated with insecticides recommended for the tomato culture for selectivity tests. The experiment was conducted at the Nucleus for Scientific and Technological Development in Phytosanitary Management (NUDEMAFI) in climate-controlled chambers at the temperature of 15±1ºC, relative humidity of 70±10%, and photophase of 14 hours. One newly emerged T. pretiosum female was used in each Eppendorf tube containing a card with 20 unviable eggs of A. kuehniella host, which were previously emerged in insecticide syrup. Fifteen repetitions were conducted for each treatment. The eggs were submitted to parasitism for 24 hours and after the descendants emerged, the characteristics were verified for biological parasitism and development of individuals. Insecticides with active ingredients Piriproxifen, Teflubenzuron, Acetamiprid 1, Lambda- Cyalothrin and Chlorantraniliprole + Lambda-Cyalothrin were considered the most selective for parasitoid T. pretiosum.