Investigation of side effects of some pesticides on important parasitoids and predators in citrus ecosystem

The most important problems in citrus production are plant protection issues. Farmers generally prefer chemical control to solve these problems. Commonly and unconsciously used pesticides cause deaths on natural enemies and thus result in destruction of the natural balance. In this study, side effects of commonly used pesticides on some predators and parasitoids existing in citrus orchards were investigated. Trials were carried out under both laboratory and field conditions and the effects of pesticides were classified according to IOBC standards. Pyriproxyfen and buprofezin with IGR group pesticides; chlorpyrifos-ethyl and sipinosad; chlorpyrifos-ethyl, mineral oil and paraffinic mineral oil were found to be very harmful to Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mulsant and Sympherobius pygmaeus Rambur larvae, to Aphytis melinus DeBach and Leptomastix dactylopii Howard adults, and to S. pygmaeus larvae, respectively. Pyriproxyfen and buprofezin; chlorpyrifos-ethyl; spirotetramat; mineral oil; paraffinic mineral oil; sipinosad were determined to be slightly harmful to C. montrouzieri adults and Stethorus gilvifrons Mulsant larvae, to C. montrouzieri, S. gilvifrons adults and larvae, to A. melinus adults and S. gilvifrons and S. pygmaeus larvae, to A. melinus adults, C. montrouzieri larvae; S. gilvifrons adults and larvae, to A. melinus adults ve S. gilvifrons larvae, to C. montrouzieri adults, S. gilvifrons ve S. pygmaeus larvae, respectively. Pyriproxyfen and buprofezin; chlorpyrifos-ethyl; spirotetramat; mineral oil; paraffinic mineral oil; sipinosad were determined to be harmless to A. melinus, L. dactylopii and S. gilvifrons adults; to C. montrouzieri adults; to L. dactylopii, C. montrouzieri, S. gilvifrons adults and C. montrouzieri larvae; to L. dactylopii and C. montrouzieri adults; to L. dactylopii, C. montrouzieri, S. gilvifrons adults and C. montrouzieri larvae; to C. montrouzieri larvae and S. gilvifrons adults, respectively. The results obtained from this study indicated that some insecticides were very harmful to some tested species, while they were less harmful or harmless to the other species and even the same insecticide had different effect on different stages of same species