To better understand the sublethal effects of cyantraniliprole on the black cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), several studies were carried out to investigate sublethal effects on development stages, population parameters, feeding indices and nutrient content of A. ipsilon. The result of a bioassay showed that cyantraniliprole had high toxicity against A. ipsilon fourth-instar larvae with an LC50 of 0.354 μg.g−1 using an artificial diet. Compared with controls, sublethal doses of cyantraniliprole at LC5, LC20 and LC40 levels prolonged larval and pupal duration and extended mean generation time and total preovipositional period. In addition, survival rate, reproductive value, intrinsic and finite rates of increase and net reproduction rate declined significantly. Meanwhile, cyantraniliprole had markedly antifeedant effects; decreased the relative growth rate (RGR), the relative consumption rate (RCR), the efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI), the efficiency of conversion of digested food (ECD); and increased the approximate digestibility (AD) significantly. This phenomenon contributed to the decrease of nutrient contents, including lipids, protein and carbohydrates, to the point that insufficient energy was available for normal growth. Therefore, sublethal concentrations of cyantraniliprole decreased growth speed and reduced population reproduction of A. ipsilon. This result provides information useful in integrated pest management (IPM) programs for A. ipsilon.

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BACKGROUNDIn the context of the resistance development and health risks of currently used fumigants, it is urgent to seek more effective and ecofriendly compounds for stored‐product pest control. The microbial volatile compound benzothiazole is known to have fungicidal and insecticidal activity; however, its detailed efficacy on storage pests is largely unknown.RESULTSBenzothiazole was identified for its great ovicidal, larvicidal, pupicidal and adulticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum, and exhibited potent repellency against T. castaneum. The benzothiazole concentrations and developmental stage of T. castaneum were the key factors affecting the insecticidal effects. Adults of T. castaneum exposed to benzothiazole for as long as 168 h showed a decrease in progeny production. Based on 7 days of fumigation in the model food system, benzothiazole at 0.12 mg mL−1 provided an efficacy of 96% and completely inhibited the number of offspring. Safety profile assessment showed that benzothiazole did not affect the germination rate of wheat seeds but had a slight negative effect on seedling growth. However, sufficient ventilation and soil nutrients could relieve this adverse impact.CONCLUSIONBenzothiazole is a strong fumigant and repellent against T. castaneum. This study provides a good perspective of novel ways to control T. castaneum. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry

In this study, a novel succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide benzovindiflupyr was found to have strong inhibitory activity against gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea. The sensitivity of B. cinerea to benzovindiflupyr was determined by testing 103 pathogen isolates with mean values of 2.15 ± 0.19 mg L and 0.89 ± 0.14 mg L for mycelial growth and spore germination inhibition, respectively. Furthermore, benzovindiflupyr had excellent long-lasting protective activity. Unfortunately, there were positive correlations between benzovindiflupyr and boscalid ( r = 0.3, P = 0.04) and between benzovindiflupyr and isopyrazam ( r = 0.31, P = 0.04). In the field, cucumber flowers are susceptible to infection by B. cinerea. Benzovindiflupyr applied at 20 mg L by dipping flowers could successfully control cucumber gray mold, with the benzovindiflupyr dose of dipping flower application less than 1% of that of spraying application. Benzovindiflupyr combined with dipping flower application showed significant control of gray mold.