Lethal and sublethal effects of spiropidion (TINIVION® technology), the new ketoenol, on Eretmocerus eremicus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) and Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Bemisia tabaci Gennadius (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is a worldwide whitefly pest of many agricultural systems, causing damage directly through feeding and indirectly through the transmission of plant viruses. Spiropidion (TINIVION (R) technology) is a new ketoenol marketed by Syngenta that belongs to the inhibitors of acetyl CoA carboxylase. It is presumed to show excellent activity against whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and mites in vegetables and specialty crops via foliar and/or soil applications while having a favourable toxicological and environmental profile. Given that there are numerous natural enemies controlling the whitefly, it is necessary to study the joint use of this new compound with beneficials. The toxicity of spiropidion in comparison with spirotetramat and imidacloprid for the biological control of whiteflies was evaluated on pupae (laboratory, topical application) and adults (laboratory and semifield test, residual application) of Eretmocerus eremicus Rose and Zolnerowich (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), and on adults of Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Hemiptera: Miridae) (semifield test, residual application). Spiropidion resulted a slightly more selective compound than its counterpart spirotetramat for both natural enemies. Adult emergence, mortality and parasitization of surviving adults after application of spiropidion on E. eremicus mummies were classified as 1-2 International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) categories, and also when adults were exposed to a treated tomato plant, regardless of age-residue (fresh or 8 days). Nevertheless, parasitization was reduced in the semifield assay for both residues (2-3 IOBC category). Spiropidion was perfectly compatible with N. tenuis in semifield conditions, as adult mortality was classified as 1 IOBC category for both residues, and surviving adults produced similar offspring rates than water-mock control.