Direct effects of pesticides and plant growth regulators on the rove beetle, Atheta coriaria

Pest management of greenhouse crops primarily relies on the use of pesticides in order to achieve high aesthetic standards. However, recently, a number of biological control programs have been successfully implemented for the regulation of greenhouse pests. The rove beetle Atheta coriaria is a biological control agent mainly used against fungus gnats (Bradysia spp.). Although there is evidence of its effectiveness as biological control agent the compatibility of A. coriaria with pesticides and plant growth regulators has not been determined. As such, the objective of this study was to assess the direct toxic effects of certain pesticides and plant growth regulators on A. coriaria. Ten insecticides (acetamiprid, kinoprene, organic oils, soybean and rosemary oils, metaflumizone, lambda-cyhalothrin, cyfluthrin, azadirachtin, pyriproxyfen, and cyromazine), one microbial insecticide based on Beauveria bassiana, and three plant growth regulators (A-Rest, Bonzi, and Sumagic), were evaluated. Based on the results, A. coriaria is generally compatible with all three plant growth regulators as well as with pesticides such as insect growth regulators and organic oils (>80% recovery rate 10 days after pesticide application) but is not compatible with insecticides in the chemical classes: neonicotinoid and pyrethroid (<50% recovery rate 10 days after pesticide application).