Non-target impacts of soybean insecticidal seed treatments on the life history and behavior of Podisus nigrispinus, a predator of fall armyworm

- Seed treatment with systemic insecticides poses risks to non-target organisms.
- Chlorantraniliprole increased P. nigrispinus intrinsic rate of population growth.
- Thiamethoxam caused both lethal and sublethal effects on P. nigrispinus.
- Chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam did not significantly affect bug walking.
- Chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam reduced leaf consumption by S. frugiperda.

The treatment of seeds with systemic insecticides has become a common practice worldwide. However, this prophylactic use of insecticides has been questioned recently because of the potential risks to non-target organisms. This study assessed the non-target effects of chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam seed treatments on the life history and walking behavior of Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas), as well as the efficacy of these insecticides for controlling Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith). Thiamethoxam caused mortality of P. nigrispinus, increased the pre-oviposition period, and reduced the oviposition period and the fecundity and survival of females compared to chlorantraniliprole. In contrast, the life expectancy of P. nigrispinus females was prolonged by chlorantraniliprole, which also increased the intrinsic rate of growth (rm) and the finite growth rate (λ), and reduced the population doubling time (DT) compared to thiamethoxam. The net reproductive rate (R0) and mean generation time (T) were not affected by either insecticide treatment, and neither were the walking velocity of P. nigrispinus females, nor the distance they covered. Both chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam reduced soybean leaf consumption by S. frugiperda larvae. Given the observed lethal and sublethal effects, soybean seed treatments with chlorantraniliprole and thiamethoxam were judged to present low and moderate risks for P. nigrispinus, respectively.

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