| Summary: | When considering how insecticides impact beneficial insects, in addition to direct
mortality, we need to assess sublethal effects on population numbers which reduce the efficacy
of the predators and parasitoids in reducing pest insects. The physiological sublethal effects can
result in reduced longevity and reproduction.
Understanding the sublethal effects of insecticides on beneficial insects is important in
agroecosystems, especially in the context of natural biological control which aims to augment
endemic natural enemies.
The objective of this research study was to evaluate the environmental effects of
insecticides on non target predator and parasitoid insects, combining the review of the literature
and the synthesis of both a laboratory and a field research study. The lab study considered the
effects of chlorpyrifos and deltamethrin on three natural enemies of Russian wheat aphid; the
field study considered the effects of chlorpyrifos, deltamethrin, cyhalothrin-lambda and
imidacloprid on ground dwelling arthropods in a Canola field.
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