The selectivity of ten commercial pesticide formulations used in peach orchard was evaluated in laboratory tests (25±1 ºC, RH 70±10% and 14 hours photophase) by exposing the adult of Trichogramma pretiosum Riley to fresh dry pesticide film applied on glass plates. The number of eggs parasitized per adult female and the reduction in parasitism (RP) compared to control (treated with water) were used to measure the effect of the chemical in harmless (<30% RP), slightly harmful (30-79% RP), moderately harmful (80-99% RP) and harmful (>99% RP). The pesticides captan, copper oxide, dithianon, mancozeb and methoxyfenozide were harmless; gliphosate and mineral oil was slightly harmful and abamectin, cyanamide and etofenprox were harmful to T. pretiosum.
Pesticides; egg parasitoid; biological control; Prunus persica L.
