Comparative acute toxicity of neonicotinoid and pyrethroid insecticides to non‐target crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) associated with rice–crayfish crop rotations |
| |
| Authors: | Gary C Barbee Michael J Stout |
| |
| Institution: | 1. School of Plant, Environmental and Soil Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA;2. Department of Entomology, Louisiana State University and LSU AgCenter, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | BACKGROUND: Most insecticides used to control rice water weevil (Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus Kuscel) infestations are pyrethroids. However, pyrethroids are highly toxic to non‐target crayfish associated with rice–crayfish crop rotations. One solution to the near‐exclusive reliance on pyrethroids in a rice–crayfish pest management program is to incorporate neonicotinoid insecticides, which are insect specific and effective against weevils but not extremely toxic to crayfish. This study aimed to take the first step to assess neonicotinoids as alternatives to pyrethroids in rice–crayfish crop rotations by measuring the acute toxicities of three candidate neonicotinoid insecticides, clothianidin, dinotefuran and thiamethoxam, to juvenile Procambarus clarkii (Girard) crayfish and comparing them with the acute toxicities of two currently used pyrethroid insecticides, lambda‐cyhalothrin and etofenprox. RESULTS: Neonicotinoid insecticides are at least 2–3 orders of magnitude less acutely toxic (96 h LC50) than pyrethroids to juvenile Procambarid crayfish: lambda‐cyhalothrin (0.16 µg AI L?1) = etofenprox (0.29 µg AI L?1) ? clothianidin (59 µg AI L?1) > thiamethoxam (967 µg AI L?1) > dinotefuran (2032 µg AI L?1). CONCLUSION: Neonicotinoid insecticides appear to be much less hazardous alternatives to pyrethroids in rice–crayfish crop rotations. Further field‐level neonicotinoid acute and chronic toxicity testing with crayfish is needed. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry |
| |
| Keywords: | neonicotinoid pyrethroid Procambarus clarkii crayfish crawfish rice pest management alternative LC50 relative hazard index |
|
|
