Studies of the efficacy of insecticides against pepper-infesting aphids (Aphididae)

Abstract

Green peach aphid (Myzus persicae Sultzer) is permanently exposed to selection pressure by insecticidal treatments. This has resulted in the aphid populations to develop resistance to insecticides most applied in a number of countries. Another important pepper-infesting aphid is Aphis nasturtii Kalt. In Serbia, aphid resistance to insecticides has not been properly investigated so far. However, weak efficacy of some insecticides in controlling M, persicae and other types of aphids has often been observed in practice, mostly in treatments with organophosphorus compounds. In compliance with EPPO methods, experimental evaluations were performed in different localities, to determine the efficacy of insecticides based on dimethoate, pirimicarb, imidacloprid and thiacloprid against aphids attacking pepper. Neonicotinoid insecticides showed high or satisfactory efficacy (over 95%). However, pirimicarb efficacy was insufficient ( lt 85%) and dimethoate showed low efficacy in controlling some pest populations.