Entomology Group, Plant Protection Department, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Carretera de La Coruña Km 7,5, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
Pest Manag Sci. 2014 Mar;70(3):454-61. doi: 10.1002/ps.3593. Epub 2013 Jul 19.
Monosteira unicostata is an important pest of almond tree in the Mediterranean region requiring control methods alternative to synthetic pesticides. The efficacy of kaolin, azadirachtin and potassium salts of fatty acids combined with thyme essential oil against adults and fourth instar nymphs of this tingid was evaluated in laboratory assays.
In no choice assays with adults, kaolin significantly increased mortality compared to control (42.7% versus 23.8%) and reduced the oviposition of females (11.8 versus 35.3 eggs), the feeding activity (169.6 versus 471.2 excrements) and the damage caused (1.1 versus 2.3 damage index). In choice assays with adults, the repellence index calculated for kaolin (48.2%) was significantly higher compared to control (-15.3%), resulting in oviposition, feeding and damage deterrence indices also significantly higher than the control. In no choice assays with nymphs, all products increased mortality and reduced the feeding activity and the damage caused on leaves. Potassium soap with thyme essential oil and azadirachtin were the most effective compounds (98.0% and 97.6% mortality versus 13.3% control mortality, respectively).
The products tested have shown high and different efficacy on nymphs and adults of Monosteira unicostata. This activity might be suitable for the practical application of these compounds to control its populations under real field conditions.
单刺桐象是地中海地区杏仁树的重要害虫，需要寻找替代合成农药的防治方法。本研究在实验室条件下评估了高岭土、印楝素和脂肪酸钾盐与百里香精油复配对该象甲成虫和四龄若虫的防治效果。
在成虫的无选择测试中，与对照相比，高岭土显著增加了死亡率（42.7%比 23.8%），降低了雌虫的产卵量（11.8 比 35.3 个卵）、取食量（169.6 比 471.2 个粪便）和造成的损伤（1.1 比 2.3 个损伤指数）。在成虫的选择测试中，高岭土的驱避指数（48.2%）显著高于对照（-15.3%），导致产卵、取食和损伤抑制指数也显著高于对照。在若虫的无选择测试中，所有产品均提高了死亡率，并降低了叶片上的取食活性和造成的损伤。含百里香精油和印楝素的钾皂是最有效的化合物（死亡率分别为 98.0%和 97.6%，而对照的死亡率为 13.3%）。
本研究测试的产品对单刺桐象的成虫和若虫均表现出高效和不同的防治效果。这种活性可能适用于这些化合物在实际田间条件下控制其种群的实际应用。
