Toxicity of new insecticides against pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae

ABSTRACT: Aphis punicae P. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the most important pests in pomegranate orchards in Iran. Laboratory evaluation of imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid and flonicamid on mortality of A. punicae under controlled conditions was conducted. Different concentrations of each pesticide were prepared with distilled water. First instar nymphs were sprayed by Potter Spray Tower. The LC50 value for imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, thiacloprid and flonicamid were calculated: 0.24 µl/ml, 0.31mg/ml, 0.48 µl/ml and 0.05 mg/ml, respectively. Probit analysis data revealed that the sensitivity of the insects to the pesticides was imidacloprid > thiacloprid > flonicamid > thiamethoxam. The results showed that imidacloprid and thiacloprid at 1 µl/ml, thiamethoxam at 0.35 mg/ml and flonicamid at 0.1 mg/ml had the highest mortality.