Alternative insecticides in the control of the brown citrus aphid Toxoptera citricida (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of alternative insecticides to control the brown citrus aphid Toxoptera citricida (Hemiptera: Aphididae). The treatments consisted of neem oil Azadirachta indica (Sapindales: Meliaceae); smoke syrup Nicotiana tabacum (Solanales: Solanaceae); coconut soap solution (commercial product); black pepper extract Piper nigrum (Piperales: Piperaceae); chemical insecticide Decis® 25 EC; and distilled water. Ten adult insects were placed on a filter paper in a Petri dish, applying 1.5 mL of each treatment to each dish, kept in a BOD-type air-conditioned chamber at a temperature of 25 ± 1 °C and a photophase of 12 hours. The experimental design used was completely randomized, using six treatments with six repetitions, consisting of 10 aphids. Survival assessment were performed at 6, 12, 18 and 24 hours after application of treatments. The alternative insecticides coconut soap and the smoke syrup caused the mortality of 45% and 38.3%, respectively, of the T. citricida at 24 hours after application, showing promising in the control of this pest.

Keywords

• aphidae, citriculture, pests