Potentiation of copaíba oil-resin with synthetic insecticides to control of fall armyworm

Abstract

The control of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. SMITH) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) has been carried out mainly with pyrethroids and organophosphates insecticides. The continuous and indiscriminate use of synthetic insecticides, for decades, has led to the selection of resistant populations and has caused concerns for human health and the environment. An alternative is the use of botanical insecticides, including through the mixtures with synthetic insecticides. This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of copaiba oil-resin mixtures (COR) with deltamethrin, beta-cyfluthrin, beta-cypermethrin, methomyl, triazophos and chlorpyrifos for S. frugiperda. Bioassays were performed in the laboratory using newly hatched caterpillars on a contaminated surface (filter paper). Initially, concentration-mortality curves were established for each insecticide and COR. Based on the results, experiments were conducted to verify the effect of the COR mixtures with synthetic insecticides in the proportions of 1:1 (LC25 + LC25) on larvae of S. frugiperda. Additionally, COR concentration-response curves were established by adding 1/8 of the recommended rate of each insecticide. Notably, the use of this concentration for all insecticides was previously determined in bioassays, and no significant toxicity was found for S. frugiperda caterpillars. It was found that the toxicity of COR increased substantially by adding synthetic insecticides, especially with lower mixtures with beta-cypermethrin, methomyl and triazophos.