Selectivity of Insecticides Used in the Management of Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) for Adults of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

The preservation of biological control agents in agroecosystems while simultaneously ensuring the use of insecticides with selective chemical profiles is crucial for sustainable pest management. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the selectivity of insecticides used in the management of Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta in tomato crops during the adult stage of Trichogramma pretiosum. The selectivity tests were conducted according to the standards of the International Organization for Biological and Integrated Control/West Palearctic Regional Section. The bioassay was used to assess the direct effects of treatments on T. pretiosum adults through tarsal contact. Specifically, 42 chemical and/or biological insecticides commonly applied in tomato cultivation were used to manage P. absoluta. The insecticides identified as selective (Class 1) for adult T. pretiosum under laboratory conditions were recommended for use in integrated pest management (IPM) programs in tomato crops. These included Hayate®, Agree®, Dipel®, Xentari®, Tarik®, Bioexos®, Verpavex®, Spodovir®, Verpavex® + Spodovir®, Tuta Vir®, BioBrev®, Diplomata®, VirControl C.i®, and VirControl S.F®. Insecticides belonging to the following chemical groups were not selective, that is, they were harmful to T. pretiosum adults: avermectins, milbemycins, diacylhydrazines, oxadiazines, semicarbazones, spinosyns, diamides, chlorfenapyr, nereistoxin analogs, pyrethroids, carbamates, butenolides, isoxazoline, azadirachtin, quinolizidine alkaloids, METI, and benzoylureas. Therefore, these insecticides should be used with caution in IPM programs that target P. absoluta in tomato crops.