The effects of six insecticides used in UK cereal fields on sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae).

Abstract

A semi-field, manipulative experiment was carried out in June 1990 in southern England whereby batches of sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera:Tenthredinidae) were caged onto areas of spring wheat sprayed two hours earlier with either water or solutions of six insecticides at recommended field rates. These included two recently approved synthetic pyrethroids. This family of insects are important in the diet of wild game bird chicks and are thought to be susceptible to broad-spectrum insecticides.
Pirimicarb proved to be the least toxic compound (32% mortality after 6 days) whereas the organophosphate compounds and the pyrethroids produced mortality rates of between 89% and 100%.