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Subterranean termites are one of the most important pests of buildings, historic monuments and agricultural crops in some parts of Iran. Using entomopathogenic fungi as microbial insecticides is usually a part of biological control and insect pest management. The pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (DEMI 001) isolated from Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (Oliver) was compared against two subterranean termites, Amitermes vilis (Hagen) and Microcerotermes gabrielis (Weidner) under laboratory conditions. Suspensions of the fungus spores at five concentrations of 10¹, 10², 10³, 10⁴, 10⁶ spores ml^-1 were prepared to define LC50 and LT50. To determine LC50 and LT50 of M. anisopliae, bioassays were carried out on worker casts of both termite species. LC50 values for A. vilis and M. gabrielis were 8.5 × 10³ and 0.2 × 10² spores ml^-1, respectively. LT50 value for M. gabrielis was shorter than that of A. vilis at all five concentrations tested. According to the results of the bioassay, M. anisopliae was more effective for controlling M. gabrielis than that for A. vilis.

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Acute toxicity (96h-LC₅₀) of potassium permanganate (PM) was determined for Caspian kutum Rutilus frisii kutum at two size classes (1 and 3 g). Static renewal method was used. Fish were exposed to different concentrations of PM and mortality was recorded thereafter, until 96 h. Exposed fish showed behavioral stress indicators. 96h-LC₅₀ was calculated to be 3.204 (3.147-3.260) mg/L for small fish and 3.460 (3.393-3.528) mg/L for large fish. Safe concentration for small and large fish was calculated to be 0.003-0.320 and 0.003-0.342 mg/L, respectively. No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) and Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC) were 2.6 and 2.8 mg/L for small and 2.8 and 3.0 mg/L for large fish. Results indicated that Caspian kutum is susceptible to PM toxicity; although less than many tested species. Likewise, toxicity of PM significantly decreases with increase in fish weight. Higher tolerance in large fish compared to small fish might be as a result of increased stress resistance and higher quality of these fish.

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Toxicity and LC₅₀ 96-h of Malathion on the Caspian common carp fingerlings, Cyprinuscarpio, and its effects on some blood indices, including hematocrit, glucose, cholesterol and total protein content, were investigated. The median lethal concentration, the lowest effective concentration and the maximum allowable concentration were found to be 1.3, 0.646 and 0.13 mg.L^-1, respectively. Based on the LC₅₀ finding, Malathion can be regarded as “moderately toxic” for this fish.  Significant differences between the hematocrit, glucose, and cholesterol among treatments were evident, but no significant difference in the total protein of blood plasma was observed. The hematocrit level in the control group was lower than the other groups. The lowest levels of cholesterol and glucose were observed in 0.5 mg/L, and the maximum levels were found in 2.5 and 2 mg/L, respectively. Therefore, malathion which is supposed to be ineffective for non-target species at allowable concentrations, can lead to their blood indicies responses and bio-damages.

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Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the lethal concentration (LC₅₀ 96h) - Butyl phthalate and Calculate of Low Observable Effect Concentration (LOEC) and Non Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC) on rainbow trout fingerlings.
Materials and Method: Acute static toxicity test was performed based on the standard O.E.C.D. 7.3±1.25g) in 96 hours. Statistical calculation was done with SPSS 21 and probit regression and ANOVA method.
Findings: Mortality was increased with increasing concentrations of - Butyl phthalate Within 24 to 96 hours. Lethal concentrations of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were 15.46, 12.96, 11.21 and 9.93mg.L-1, respectively. Observable Effect Concentration (LOEC) of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were 3.4, 3.8, 7.2 and 9.95mg.L-1, too. Non Observable Effect Concentration (NOEC) of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were 0.78, 0.95, 1.45 and 1.68mg.L-1, respectively.
Conclusion: Toxicological studies are necessary for rainbow trout because of their importance and sensitivity of this species to pollutants). The results of this research can be applied to assess the ecological risks and nutritional risks of this group of pollutants. So, an effective management and control strategy must be executed in order to reduce the problems caused by DnBP in the environment.

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The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), is one of the most important pests in greenhouses and its damages are economically important. The overuse of chemical pesticides has caused resistance in green peach aphid to many common insecticides. Aphidius matricariae (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is an effective biological control agent against aphid populations especially in greenhouse crops. Currently, use of safe and biocompatible botanical pesticides in combination with biological control agents is being recommended. In this study, contact toxicity of Dayabon (SL 10%), a new botanical pesticide, was investigated on different life stages of M. persicae at 1000 to 7000ppm. Also, the toxicity was studied on mummies and adult parasitoids at 2000 to 14000ppm. The estimated LC₅₀ on first, second, third, fourth instar nymphs and adults were 3254, 3387, 4194, 3839 and 3508ppm, respectively. However, concentrations up to 5000ppm caused less than 50% mortality in parasitoid mummies. Moreover, the residues of Dayabon did not cause any mortality in A. matricariae adults. Based on the standard method of IOBC/WPRS Working Group for side-effects of pesticides on natural enemies of insects, the Dayabon is recognized as safe for A. matricariae while it has acceptable mortality on green peach aphid. Therefore, the integration of Dayabon with A. matricariae could be recommended in order to achieve better control of M. persicae in greenhouse products.

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For successful implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) programs, having knowledge on lethal and low-lethal effects of pesticides on natural enemies is necessary. The present study evaluated the low-lethal effect of thiamethoxam on life table parameters of the subsequent generation of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus McGregor (Acari: Phytoseiidae) fed on Tetranychus urticae Koch under laboratory conditions. The low-lethal concentrations LC₅, LC₁₀ and LC₂₀ were determined based on a dose-effect assay. The raw data were analyzed based on age-stage two sex life table analysis. Exposure to the low-lethal concentrations of thiamethoxam had no significant effects on developmental time of offspring of treated mites. Compared with control treatment, the oviposition period of treated mites with LC₅, LC₁₀ and LC₂₀ decreased significantly. The highest and lowest values of total fecundity were obtained at control (35.3 eggs/female/day) and LC₂₀ (23.6 eggs /female/day), respectively. The net reproductive rate (R₀) decreased with increasing dose from LC₅ (22.6 offspring) to LC₂₀ (15.0 offspring). The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ), were not affected by increasing concentrations. The mean generation time (T) decreased significantly at upper dose (LC₂₀ = 13.2 d), compared with control (14.7 d). In consequence, the low-lethal concentration influences of thiamethoxam in combination with N. californicus in order to design management programs of T. urticae are discussed.
 

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Aims: The present study intends to assess the toxicity of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) at laboratory conditions on some pathogenic bacteria for the reared fish, as well as, a bioassay on rainbow trout.
Material & Methods: For this purpose, the sensitivity of them to the mentioned NPs with a reference antibiotic (florfenicol) was assayed through the well diffusion method, as well as, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacteriocidal concentration (MBC) were determined by microdilution technique. On the other hand, the lethal toxicity test has been accomplished to the calculation of median lethal concentration (LC50) on some rainbow trout (55.3±7.6 g) in static condition for the 96 consecutive hours. We use one-way ANOVA and Probit regression in order to data analysis.
Findings: Results show that NPs of copper oxide and zinc oxide could significantly inhibit the growth of Streptococcus iniae or kill it at 0.18 and 0.24 µg/ml and more, respectively. The comparison between LC50-96h quantities of CuO NP (107.4 µg/l) and ZnO NP (102.3 µg/l) indicated that the CuO NP has more toxic potential.
Conclusion: According to the laboratory findings, the susceptibility of S. iniae and L. garvieae to ZnO NP were close to florfenicol. The mortality in the fish species due to lethal toxicity would occur if the effective concentration of NPs on the bacterial pathogenic agents being used directly.

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The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) is one of the most important and destructive herbivorous mites in farm and greenhouse that has developed high levels of resistance to many acaricides. In this study, we investigated the effect of sublethal concentrations of hexythiazox at LC₁₀, LC₂₀, and LC₃₀ on the development and reproduction parameters of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and its prey T. urticae. The crude data were analyzed based on age-stage, two-sex life table analysis. Hexythiazox (at LC₂₀ and LC₃₀ levels) reduced the oviposition period (9.68, 8.06 days), total lifespan (22.37, 20.88 days), and total fecundity (50.97, 46.21 eggs/female) compared to the control but did not affect those parameters of A. swirskii. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) and finite rate of increase (λ) were not significantly different at tested concentrations, but the net reproductive rate (R₀), gross reproductive rate (GRR), and mean generation time (T) reduced significantly. Our study demonstrated lower toxicity of hexythiazox on A. swirskii compared to its prey. It could be concluded that the use of selective acaricides at lower concentrations may be helpful in integrated pest management programs.

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In this study, two essential oils including Cuminum cyminum (L.) and Lavandula angustifolia (Mill.) were nano-capsulated by solvent evaporation emulsion method and their fumigant toxicity was investigated against three important stored-products pest, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Sitophilus granarius (L.), and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.). Moreover, the sublethal concentrations of phosphine gas in combination with nano-capsules were evaluated to reduce their usage concentration. The synthetized nano-capsules were confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The chemical compositions analysis of C. cyminum and L. angustifolia by GC-MS revealed that α-Pinene (44.63%) and Linalyl acetate (61.74%) were the major components of C. cyminum and L. angustifolia, respectively. The results showed that pure C. cyminum was more effective than L. angustifolia regarding the fumigant toxicity after 24 h treatment on the three mentioned stored products pests. The LC₅₀ values of pure C. cyminum oil after 24 h treatment were obtained as 42.51 and 78.99 μL L^-1 air by S. granarius and T. castaneum, respectively. However, the LC₅₀ values of C. cyminum oil nano-capsule form were 220.34 (S. granaries) and 374.16 μL L^-1 air (T. castaneum), which were determined as susceptible and resistant pests, respectively. The results indicated that the combination of nano-capsulated form of essential oil with reduced amounts of phosphine could be used as a suitable method for control of stored product pests.