Field validation of laboratory-derived IOBC toxicity ratings for natural enemies in commercial vineyards

Abstract

Management of pests and diseases remains a key issue for agricultural profitability and environmental health. Moves towards sustainability require a reduction in chemical toxicity loadings and conservation of natural enemies to maintain pest control. There is a lot of information from laboratory tests regarding the effects of chemicals on beneficial predators and parasitoids but very few translations of these effects into field impacts particularly under commercial conditions. To address this issue we calculated a chemical toxicity score for 19 commercial vineyards based on IOBC toxicity ratings and application number, and compared this to extensive field collections to determine if natural ..