A dose-effect relationship for the effect of deltamethrin on a linyphiid spider population in winter wheat

The relationship between application rate and effect of deltamethrin (Decis) on a linyphiid spider population was studied in relation to ambient physical factors. A field experiment using five application rates and a control was conducted in winter wheat plots. The aim was to determine application rates that allowed for determination of negative as well as positive effects of physical factors on arthropod toxicity using pitfall traps. Several physical variables were measured in the crop canopy and deltamethrin deposition was determined at ground level. The use of Before-After-Control-Impact design (BACI) time series analysis for characterization of instantaneous pesticide effects and velocity of recovery, relative to the application rate sprayed was evaluated. An initial reduction in spider catches ranging from 58% to 85% percent for sprayed concentrations of 0.25 to 4 g active ingredient per hectare (ai ha-1) was observed, followed by exponential recovery with a half-life time of 2.8 days for all treatments. The effects observed in this study were relatively mild compared to other field-experiments. It was concluded that an application rate near 0.25 g ai ha-1 deltamethrin (i.e., one twentieth of the recommended rate) would be sufficient to study the relationship between physical factors and the effects of deltamethrin. BACI time series analysis was shown to be a useful technique for characterizing short-term pesticide effects.