The selectivity of the insecticides acephate, deltamethrin, dimethoate, methamidophos, methyl parathion, and pirimicarb were studied on the last nymphal phase of the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Homoptera: Aphididae) and on first, second, and third instar nymphs and adults of the Doru luteipes (Scudder) (Dermaptera: Forficulidae). Pirimicarb was highly selective in favor of all developmental stages of D. luteipes. Deltamethrin, methyl parathion and dimethoate were of median selectivity in favor of third instar nymphs of D. luteipes, as was also observed for the first two of these insecticides regarding to nymphs of first and second instars, respectively. Acephate was little selective in favor of second and third instars nymphs, and the same was observed for methyl parathion, deltamethrin and methamidophos to first, second and third instar nymphs, respectively. Dimethoate and methamidophos were more toxic to nymphs of first and second instars of the predator than to the last instar nymphs of the green peach aphid. D. luteipes adults and second and third instar nymphs were more tolerant to acephate, methyl parathion, and pirimicarb than first instar nymphs. D. luteipes first and second instar nymphs showed similar tolerance to deltamethrin, dimethoate, and methamidophos. Concentration-response curves for deltamethrin, methamidophos, and pirimicarb (to all development stages of D. luteipes), for dimethoate (to adults and first and second instar nymphs of the predator), for methyl parathion (to first and third instar nymphs of the predator), and for acephate (to adults of the predator) showed steeper slopes than the concentration-response curves of these insecticides established to M. persicae.
Brassica oleracea; selectivity; biological control
