Abstract
Sensitivity of the predator, Coccinella undecimpunctata L. and its cabbage aphid prey, Brevicoryne brassicae L. towards three insecticides [Chlorpyrifos (Pyriban 48% EC), Deltamethrin (Pendelta 27% EC) and Spinosad (Tracer 24% SC)] was evaluated. All tested insecticides were found much more toxic to the prey than to the predator. The highest tested concentration (3.0%) for 24 hours, the percentage of mortality for the predator's eggs was 50, 50 and 20%. At the lowest tested concentration (0.75%) mortality percentage did not exceed 20%. The same trend was observed for the 2(nd), 4(th) larval instars of the predator. The aphid mortality reached 100% within 2 days for all tested insecticides. The application of (Pendelta) insecticide at the concentration of 0.75 or 1.5%, which gave 100% aphid mortality induced the lowest percent mortality, especially among the predator's adults. Pyriban and Tracer were relatively unsafe to the predator's adult when compared with Pendelta.