Study on survival of the sugarcane whitefly, Neomaskellia andropogonis (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) on two sugarcane varieties treated with different insecticides

Sugarcane whitefly, Neomaskellia andropogonis Corbett is one of the relatively new pests of sugarcane fields in Iran. Control of this pest is an arduous work if its populations reach outbreak level. It seems using chemical insecticides along with resistant varieties can reduce pest population to an acceptable level after reaching economic injury level. In this study, the efficacy of three insecticides with different mode of actions including; deltamethrin, dinotefuran, and spiromesifen was examined on survival percentage of different life stages of sugarcane whitefly on IRC99-02 and CP69-1062 varieties of sugarcane. Among evaluated insecticides, deltamethrin had the most toxic effect against the adults of N. andropogonis with LC50 values of 39 and 62 ppm on IRC99-02 and CP69-1062 varieties, respectively. The higher concentrations of all insecticides significantly decreased egg hatching rate, survival percentage of nymphs, pupae and adults on both sugarcane varieties. The results revealed that evaluated insecticides, considering their different mode of actions, can be used alternatively in integrated management of the sugarcane whitefly along with the mentioned sugarcane varieties. However, in order to confirm these findings, complementary experiments regarding ecological risk assessment and determination of insecticides MRLs in yield are necessary.