Contrasting effects of two pesticides on motile arthropods in a citrus orchard canopy

Weiguang Liang, Alan Meats, G. Andrew C. Beattie, Robert Spooner-Hart, Laura Jiang

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) was used to assess the effects of two different pesticides on non-target motile foliage-dwelling arthropod communities that could be sampled by a portable suction system in a citrus orchard in the coastal region of New South Wales, Australia. Sprays of nC24 horticultural mineral oil (HMO) and an organophosphorous insecticide (methidathion) were applied at the level of whole blocks in the manner pertinent to successful control of (sessile) scale insects. The MDS model produced ordination figures for several sampling times before and after spray applications that showed that any effect of HMO was undetectable but methidathion was disruptive to the sampled motile foliage arthropod community for at least 18 weeks. This was confirmed with ANOVA of arthropod abundance. Thus if sprays were required several times per year it would be desirable to use HMOs to preserve biodiversity.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)35-40
    Number of pages6
    JournalAustralasian Journal of Ecotoxicology
    Volume16
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - 2010

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