Sixty commercial pesticide formulations were tested in the laboratory for toxicity to eggs, larvae, and adults of the green lacewing, Chrysopa carnea Stephens, at dosages similar to those used in orchards. The eggs were treated directly with the sprays. The larvae (fed a special diet to restrict cannibalism) and adults were tested on day-old residues. The pesticides are rated as having high, medium, low, or 0 toxicity. The eggs were highly susceptible to oil. Their hatch was delayed by parathion. Other materials had little effect on the eggs. Larvae and adults were killed by the residues of most of the organic phosphates and chlorinated hydrocarbons tested, but a few materials of each of these groups showed singularly low toxicity to the larvae. Day-old residues of some contact insecticides tested were harmless to all stages of this predator. Most of the acaricides, fungicides, and stomach poisons tested were not toxic. Toxaphene delayed larval growth. Several materials offer possibilities for use in integrated control programs where protection of the green lacewing is desired, and 2 materials extraordinarily toxic to it may be useful for insecticidal cheeks on this predator’s efficiency.
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Blair R. Bartlett (1964) studied this question.