An impact assessment of insecticides application on the non-targeted mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Punjab rice fields, Pakistan

Abstract

Insecticidal control of insect pests of rice crop may influence the environment and nontarget species in rice fields. Aedes albopictus, one of the most common nontarget species present in rice fields, received lethal and sublethal exposures to insecticides used in rice cultivated fields. The present work explores the effects of insecticides in six non-targeted Ae. albopictus strains collected from rice fields with a history of insecticidal usage in comparison with a laboratory susceptible reference strain (REF) and a strain (LHR) collected from a rice field with no, or minimal, history of insecticidal usage. Two types of effects, the resistance development and performance of biological traits, were studied by selecting seven commonly used insecticides in rice fields in Punjab, Pakistan. The results revealed that the strains collected from the rice fields with histories of insecticidal usage exhibited significant levels of resistance to flonicamid, chlorantraniliprole, gamma-cyhalothrin, fipronil, monomehypo, triazophos, and carbofuran, when compared with REF and LHR strains. In addition, Ae. albopictus strains revealed a significantly weaker performance of biological traits (rate of pupae formation, survival of male and female adults (except females of OKR and MTN strains), and ovipositing females) than those of the REF and LHR strains. However, the fecundity of all field strains was only significantly different with that of the REF strain. In conclusion, the results highlight the problem of the negative effects of insecticidal usage in rice fields on nontarget species present in the same environment, and emphasize the need to adopt pest management activities that are safe for the environment.

Monitoring resistance to methomyl and synergism in the non-target Musca domestica from cotton fields of Punjab and Sindh provinces, Pakistan

“…It is a matter of great concern that the use of pesticides in agriculture often poses negative impact on non-target organisms, including insect species 43 , 44 . Based on the data of last few years, it has been observed that the use of insecticides in cropping systems resulted in the occurrence of resistance in the target and non-target insect species in Pakistan, which shows that this phenomenon is extremely widespread 1 , 15 . The present work could be considered as a continuation of our efforts to explore side-effects of insecticidal usage in agriculture on non-target insect species, providing additional data of the impact of methomyl on M. domestica from localities not already explored.…”

“…Insecticidal usage in crops, besides controlling target pests, usually results in the lethal and sublethal exposures to non-target species that ultimately make these species resistant to insecticides with the passage of time 10 , 11 . Recently, resistance development has been reported in M. domestica and Aedes albopictus due to non-targeted exposure to insecticides used in rice farming 1 , 15 . Methomyl formulation has been registered in the form of emulsifiable concentrate (EC) and applied as sprays to manage different insect pests of cotton in Pakistan.…”

“…Conventional crop farming systems still rely heavily on the use of agrochemicals to manage pests and diseases and to ensure a high yield of crops to feed a continuously increasing human population 1 . The use of insecticides, one of the agrochemicals, to manage target insect pests is among the major agricultural management practices that may affect negatively non-target species (e.g., insects, nematodes, earthworms, molluscs) and other connected environmental resources 2 , 3 .…”

“…The use of insecticides, one of the agrochemicals, to manage target insect pests is among the major agricultural management practices that may affect negatively non-target species (e.g., insects, nematodes, earthworms, molluscs) and other connected environmental resources 2 , 3 . Therefore, it is the need of the hour to protect the environment and non-target insect species while managing target insect pests 1 .…”

“…In Pakistan, it is being used usually in the form of spray applications for the last four decades, due to which resistance have been reported in different target insect species 21 – 26 . It is believed that the use of insecticides on crops also results in lethal and sublethal exposure to non-target insect species around farming areas as well 1 , 27 . Previously, resistance to mathomyl in the non-target mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was reported from the cotton fields of Punjab, Pakistan 28 .…”