Curtiss et al. Earwig Bioassay Dataset 2023

Abstract: The primary pest of pears in Washington State, Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster), is managed with intensive insecticide applications or by integrated methods that include conservation of natural enemies. The compatibility of European earwig, Forficula dentata (Fab.), a C. pyricola natural enemy, with 19 insecticides commonly used in pear was investigated through a literature review and laboratory assays. The ability of surviving F. dentata nymphs to molt following exposure to insecticides was also investigated as a sublethal effect. Results were in broad agreement with previous studies demonstrating high toxicity (e.g., malathion, acetamiprid), low toxicity (e.g., pyriproxyfen, abamectin), or variable toxicity findings between studies (e.g., diflubenzuron, azadirachtin). Reported are the first known assays of cinnamon oil, cyantraniliprole, diatomaceous earth, malathion, novaluron, spirotetramat, and tolfenpyrad toxicity at the maximum allowable field rates. These data will inform the design of F. dentata-compatible integrated pest management spray programs in pear and other crops where they are beneficial, and where they are pests.