Effectiveness of some pesticides on endurance and emergence of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon Hufnagel (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Regular applications of synthetic insecticides might induce environmental pollution because of the high residue; rising insecticide resistance in many insect pests demands novel pest control methods. So, the study aimed to investigate the toxicity effect of three pesticide mixtures, extreme 36% SC (methoxyfenozide 30% + Spinetoram 6%), atifos-super 55% EC (chlorpyrifos 50%+cypermethrin5%), and tempo-xl 30% EC (chlorpyrifos 25% + lufenuron 5%) on the Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), which considered as critical pests due to attacking diverse field crops and vegetables. These compounds are effectively against lepidopterous immature insect stages, with relatively slow but strong action. The data indicated that the highest mortality percent of treated 2nd and 4th instars caused by the highest concentration of pesticides recorded (92.73, 98.15&100), (96.36, 98.15&100), (96.43, 100&100), (82.76, 91.07& 98.21%), (91.38, 94.64 & 98.18%) and (86.21, 96.43& 98.18%) after 24, 48 and 72 hr. for extreme, atifos-super and tempo-xl pesticides, respectively. Tempo-xl recorded the highest efficacy against 2nd and 4th instar larvae with LC50 of 0.73and 4.09 ppm, followed by extreme with LC50 of 1.03 and 05.03 ppm and atifos-super with LC50 5.93 and 9.78ppm, respectively. The results showed that tempo-xl is the most toxic in the various toxic values of the 2nd and 4th A. ipsilon larvae followed by extreme and atifos-super. Also, a failure of ecdysis as a standard of the disruption of the development observed after treatment with these admixtures, especially tempo-xl. Tempo-xl could be recommended as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic insecticides for the IPM program of A. ipsilon.