Effect of a formulation of Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) nuclear polyhedrosis virus on the predator Podisus nigrispinus (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae: Asopinae), using the fertility life table parameters

Two experiments were carried out in the laboratory to evaluate the effect of formulation of the nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV) of the velvetbean caterpillar, Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner (AgNPV). oil the predator Podisus nigrispinus Dallas. In the first experiment, predators were exclusively fed A, gemmatalis reared oil artificial diet, treated with one formulation of the AgNPV (infected prey) or with water (healthy prey) its the control. lit the second experiment, an additional treatment was incorporated in which the artificial diet wits treated with all inactive (autoclaved) AgNPV form illation. The predators were fed on these exclusive prey during their entire lifespans for three or four consecutive generations, during the first and second experiment, respectively. Daily observation of oviposition and mortality were performed to provide data for the construction of fertility life tables and to determine daily oviposition patterns and survival distribution curves. For both experiments, no adverse effects were observed in the first generation, However, significant effects in the predator population were observed throughout the subsequent generations, when the predators were fed with prep that fed oil infective or inactivated AgNPV diet compared with the healthy prep. The adverse effects observed might be duc to sonic inert components present in the commercial formulation, because the AgNPV has been demonstrated to be highly specific to Lepidoptera and neither does it replicate nor has any adverse effect oil P. nigrispinus, The fertility life tables proved to be a good tool to measure the potential impact of biopesticides oil nontarget population under laboratory conditions.