Pirimicarb, an aphid selective insecticide, adversely affects demographic parameters of the aphid predator Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Demographic toxicology is recommended for toxicity determination of the long term effects of a pesticide since it gives a more accurate and efficient measure of the effect of a pesticide. Thus, in the current study the sublethal effects of pirimicarb (carbamate insecticide) two concentrations of LC30 and LC10 were used against third instar larvae of Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) in order to determine the effects of the pesticide on demographic parameters of the predator under laboratory conditions. Results showed that pirimicarb did not affect individual life parameters such as development time of larva, pupa, adult longevity, female and male longevity, adult preoviposition period (APOP), and total preoviposition period (TPOP). However, population parameters such as intrinsic rate of increase (r), net reproductive rate (R0), mean generation time (T), and finite rate of increase (λ) was affected by sublethal treatment. For example, intrinsic rate of increase (r) was 0.18 day–1 in the controls but it was 0.13 and 0.14 day–1 in the treated insects with LC10 and LC30 concentrations, respectively. Also, there were significant differences between mean generation time (T) of the treatments and the controls i.e. mean generation time of the controls was 29.03 days while mean generation time in the two treatments of LC10 and LC30 was 33.93 and 31.66 days, respectively. The finite rate of increase was also significantly affected by sublethal effects of the pesticide. The results showed that pirimicarb, even at low concentrations, has potential to adversely affect the predatory ladybird, therefore care should be taken when this insecticide is used in the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.