Currently, the management of Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae) relies mainly on insecticide application in most crop productions. However, there have been very few detailed studies concerning the potential behavioral effects of sublethal dose of insecticide. This study was conducted to address sublethal effects of five insecticides on the mobility of R. pedestris. Adult R. pedestris were individually exposed to dry residue of insecticides for 4 hours in laboratory. Tested insecticides were fenitrothion (organophosphate), etofenprox (pyrethroid), bifenthrin (pyrethroid), acetamiprid (neonicotinoid) and dinotefuran (neonicotinoid). After the exposure, vertical climbing ability and flight capacity of survived R. pedestris were evaluated and compared to water-treated control. First, the mortality of R. pedestris after the 4-h insecticide exposure was as follows: 10% for fenitrothion, 3.4% for dinotefuran, 3.4% for acetamiprid, 0% for etofenprox and 0% for bifenthrin. The vertical mobility of R. pedestris was affected differently by insecticides tested. Acetamiprid resulted in decrease (37%) in the vertical mobility, whereas dinotefuran caused increase (153%) in the ability compared to the control. There was no effect by three other insecticides on the vertical mobility. In general, tested insecticides did not affect the flight capacity of R. pedestris compared to untreated individuals. However, etofenprox resulted in increase (230%) in the flight capacity. The results of this study indicate that insecticide-treated but survived R. pedestris can show similar or even increased mobility compared to untreated individuals. This should be considered in designing insecticide application programs against of R. pedestris.

• Minhyung Jung(Department of Life Sciences, Gachon University)
• Doo-Hyung Lee(Department of Life Sciences, Gachon University)