Effects of azadirachtin on chaetosiphon fragaefolli (Cockerell, 1901) (hemiptera: Aphididae) in strawberry culture

Abstract

The greenbug Chaetosiphon fragaefolli is the main insect pest of strawberry. This study evaluated the effect of azadirachtin for the control of the insect in the laboratory and in the greenhouse. The treatments were azadirachtin (Azamax® 100, 200 and 300 ml.100L-1), compared with thiamethoxam (Actara 250 WG®, 10 g. 100L-1), lambda-cyhalothrin (Karate Zeon CS 50®, 80 ml.100 L-1) and control (water). The insecticides products were sprayed on strawberry plants infested artificially in the greenhouse. Azadirachtin was equivalent to lambda-cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam to control C. fragaefolli since a second spray is made seven days after the first. The biological persistence of the insecticides lambda-cyhalothrin and thiamethoxam was more than 28 days with a control of 75% of the population of aphids while azadirachtin was less persistent controlling 70% of the population for seven days.