Sublethal toxicity of sulfoxaflor to parasitoid Binodoxys communis Gahan

Integrated pest management is focused on combining biological and chemical controls. There is evidence of a negative impact of neonicotinoids on biological control, however, sulfoxaflor (SFX), a novel insecticide, its impact on parasitoid natural predator remain limited. Binodoxys communis is an important parasitic natural enemy of Aphis gossypii, which may have direct and indirect toxicity from the insecticides and aphids. Understanding the potential threat of SFX to B. communis is therefore essential to integrated pest management and the conservation of parasitoids. Here, the effects of sublethal doses of SFX on B. communis larvae and adults are presented for the first time. Sublethal SFX doses had a significant negative effect on the survival rate, adult life span, duration of development, and rate of parasitism. Moreover, exposure to sublethal SFX doses also had adverse effects on the biological performance of the next generation of B. communis. Based on the transcriptome analysis, the expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, peroxidase, lysosomes, glutathione metabolism, drug metabolism, and CYP450 were significantly shifted by sublethal SFX exposure. These results indicate that sublethal SFX doses might adversely affect the biological performance of B. communis by altering gene expression related to the function of detoxification systems and energy metabolism. In conclusion, considering the beneficial ecological services of provided by parasitoids and the negative effects of sulfoxaflor across a greater usage scale, we emphasize the importance to optimize pesticide applications in IPM packages, in order to ensure the safety and survival of natural pest parasitoids.