ChileanJAR

Extracts of two plants, lantana (Lantana camara L., Verbenaceae) and the Peruvian peppertree (Schinus molle L., Anacardiaceae), were evaluated on eggs, first stage larvae and pupae of Chrysoperla externa Hagen (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and on the immature and adult phases of the microhymenopterans Trichogramma pintoi Voegelé (Trichogrammatidae) and Copidosoma koehleri Blanchard (Encyrtidae) in toxicological bioassays under laboratory conditions. At the concentrations applied, aqueous extracts (F₁) of lantana and Peruvian peppertree caused no significant effects on larval (residual assay) and pupal (dip assay) mortality of C. externa, but the egg hatching rate (dip assay) was affected by hexanic extract (F₂; 10%) of lantana and Peruvian peppertree, and by acetonic extract (F₃; 10%) of lantana leaves. Adults of T. pintoi were susceptible to almost all fractions in residual contact trials; adults of C. koehleri were affected by F₁ Peruvian peppertree and F₃ lantana. Emergence of both parasitoids was significantly affected by F₂ lantana and Peruvian peppertree, and by F₃ lantana in comparison to the control (distilled water). The most intense effects among the three insects assayed were produced by F₂ and F₃ lantana fractions. T. pintoi was slightly more sensitive to botanical extracts in comparison with C. koehleri. The possibility of using these botanical insecticides in an Integrated Pest Management program is discussed.