Multigenerational Insecticide Hormesis Enhances Fitness Traits in a Key Egg Parasitoid, Trichogramma chilonis Ishii

Hormesis for the intractable pests can be dreadful, but natural enemies of pests, it is a puissant strategy in optimizing their mass rearing. We report multigenerational stimulatory effects widely used insecticide, imidacloprid, on demographic traits an important egg parasitoid Trichogramma chilonis Ishii. The study investigated consequences sublethal (LC5), low lethal (LC30), and median (LC50) concentrations, as well control, five continuous generations (F1 to F5). initial bioassay experiments revealed imidacloprid exhibiting highest toxicity with LC50 2 µg·L−1, whereas LC5 LC30 were 0.07 µg·L−1 0.6 respectively. Among biological traits, compared F1 individuals, substantial increase fecundity T. was observed F5 individuals by 54.92% 46.81% when exposed LC30, respectively (p < 0.00001). Further, there significant enhancement adult longevity oviposition days at both these concentrations. Considering population along gross reproductive rate (GRR), net (R0) also enhanced than F1; intrinsic (r) finite (λ) only upon comparing control. On other hand, exposure did not result notable differences or across Low concentrations have major influence induce hormetic subsequent generations. Overall, imidacloprid-induced hormesis stimulating development might helpful under circumstances mild fields could leveraged its