The generalist mirid predator Macrolophus basicornis may contribute to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of Bemisia tabaci in tomato crops. It is important to know the compatibility of the chemicals used to control this pest with this promising biological control agent. Seven insecticides were tested to investigate their toxicity to the predator. For four of the products, the LC₅₀ for adults were determined. Buprofezin, cyantraniliprole and spiromesifen did not cause lethality and were classified as harmless. Acetamiprid, bifenthrin, etofenprox + acetamiprid and pyriproxyfen + acetamiprid caused acute toxicity and were classified as harmful. LT₅₀ for all harmful insecticides were relatively low, ranging from 1.8 to 3.2 days. Moreover, these four insecticides have low LC₅₀, with acetamiprid (0.26 mg a.i. L⁻¹) as the lowest, followed by bifenthrin (0.38 mg a.i. L⁻¹), etofenprox + acetamiprid (4.80 mg a.i. L⁻¹) and pyriproxyfen + acetamiprid (8.71 mg a.i. L⁻¹). However, the calculated risk quotient (RQ) values demonstrated that these insecticides were mostly ecologically safe for this predator, except for acetamiprid, classified as slightly to moderately toxic. The present study can contribute to the use of M. basicornis as a biological control agent on tomato crops and to compatible use with the insecticides tested, according to IPM strategies.

O Manual de Elaboração do Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso (TCC) desenvolvido pelo Programa SolloAgro define três formatos principais permitidos para os TCCs nos cursos de especialização: Monografia, Estudo de Caso e Pesquisa Científica. A Monografia foca na revisão de literatura existente, o Estudo de Caso envolve experimentos práticos e pesquisa de campo, e a Pesquisa Científica adota um método experimental mais exigente. A estrutura do TCC abrange elementos pré-textuais (como capa e sumário), textuais (introdução, desenvolvimento ou revisão bibliográfica, e metodologia) e pós-textuais (referências, anexos e apêndices), assegurando a conformidade com as diretrizes da USP.

Predatory mirids were identified in Brazil to possibly be used in the augmentative biological control of the main tomato pests, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) and Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)...