Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Journal of Crop Health, cilt.77, sa.178, ss.1-11, 2025 (SCI-Expanded)
Effective biological control relies on the viability and performance of natural enemies, which can be influenced by storage conditions and exposure to biopesticides. This study conducted to find out the effects of cold storage and botanical extracts on two key natural enemies, Aphidius colemani Viereck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae), which are widely used in augmentative biological control programs. Cold storage experiments were conducted at +4 °C for durations ranging from 24 to 168 h. Results demonstrated a progressive, time-dependent decline in emergence success for both species, with significant reductions observed beyond 72 h. A. colemani emergence decreased from 84.40% in the control to 34.80% after 96 h, while O. laevigatus emergence declined from 83.97% to 22.12% after 168 h. These findings indicate that short-term refrigeration (≤ 48 h) is feasible for maintaining parasitoid and predator viability, whereas prolonged storage (> 72 h) substantially compromises quality. The side effects of botanical extracts (Salix spp., Laurus spp., Matricaria spp.) and Bacillus thuringiensis were assessed on adult mortality of both natural enemies under short exposure periods (5–20 s). While mortality increased with exposure time, all treatments were classified as harmless (IOBC Class N). Among treatments, Laurus spp. induced the highest mortality, followed by Salix spp., whereas Matricaria spp. and B. thuringiensis exhibited minimal impact. This study highlights that while cold storage duration is a critical limiting factor, the evaluated botanical and microbial agents are compatible with A. colemani and O. laevigatus.