Pyrethroid-Acarophenax lacunatus interaction in suppressing the beetle Rhyzopertha dominica on stored wheat

Any biocontrol agent used against stored grain insects will have to interact with insecticides used as grain protectants due to their heavy use especially in tropical areas. Therefore, the interaction between the pyrethroid insecticides bifenthrin and deltamethrin and Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross & Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae), an egg parasite of the stored cereal pest Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), was assessed in a range of mite densities and insecticide doses for each compound. Despite the mite species presence on all insecticide doses, the lowest instantaneous rate of increase of A. lacanatus was recorded with the highest doses of insecticides. The presence of the biological control agent at all doses of both insecticides suggests its tolerance to these compounds. A. lacunatus showed higher parasitism rate with bifenthrin than with deltamethrin indicating a higher selectivity of the first compound to the biocontrol agent.