TOXICITY OF INSECTICIDES USED IN CITRUS TO APHYTIS-MELINUS DEBACH (HYMENOPTERA, APHELINIDAE) AND RHIZOBIUS-LOPHANTHAE (BLAISD) (COLEOPTERA, COCCINELLIDAE)

The 48-h toxicities of freshly deposited residues of 28 insecticides against Aphytis melinus DeBach and Rhizobius lophanthae (Blaisd.) were evaluated at various rates. Rates as high as 4-fold the recommended field rate of several materials (formulated plant alkaloids, amitraz, formulated Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner endotoxin or exotoxin, and cryolite) revealed little mortality to either species. Concentration-mortality regressions were quantified for the remaining materials, which included five carbamates, a macrocyclic lactone, eight organophosphates, and four pyrethroids. Of these, pyrethroids in general were most toxic, followed by carbamates, and then organophosphates, to both species. Most materials tested were more toxic to A. melinus than to R. lophanthae