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Research ArticleArticles

Toxicity of Neem-Derived Insecticides to Various Life Stages of The ELM Leaf Beetle

Rick J. Zimmerman, D. Casey Sclar, Terri Randolph and Whitney S. Cranshaw
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) July 1995, 21 (4) 181-186; DOI: https://doi.org/10.48044/joa.1995.21.4.181
Rick J. Zimmerman
1Rogers Mesa Research Center, 3060 Highway 92, Hotchkiss, Colorado 81419 and Department of Entomology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
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D. Casey Sclar
1Rogers Mesa Research Center, 3060 Highway 92, Hotchkiss, Colorado 81419 and Department of Entomology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
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Terri Randolph
1Rogers Mesa Research Center, 3060 Highway 92, Hotchkiss, Colorado 81419 and Department of Entomology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
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Whitney S. Cranshaw
1Rogers Mesa Research Center, 3060 Highway 92, Hotchkiss, Colorado 81419 and Department of Entomology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
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Abstract

A series of laboratory and field experiments to determine the suitability of neem oil derived insecticides for elm leaf beetle control was performed. Laboratory experiments determined mortality and antifeedant effects to elm leaf beetle larvae. Ovicidal activity was also evaluated in the laboratory. Field trials were conducted on mature elm trees to evaluate the efficacy of neem on elm leaf beetle larvae. Results of laboratory studies indicated significant mortality to elm leaf beetle larvae as a result of neem applications. In addition, greater mortality was observed to eggs treated with neem. Also, anti-feedant effects of neem-treated leaves was observed in all three elm leaf beetle larval instars. Neem-treated trees showed significantly less elm leaf beetle feeding damage than control trees for approximately one month after application. This study demonstrates the potential of neem oil formulations for elm leaf beetle control.

The elm leaf beetle, Xarithogaleruca luteola, is a major defoliator of elm trees in many urban areas of the United States (4). As a result of the extensive aesthetic damage, elm trees are one of the most widely insecticide-treated trees in the urban environment.

A potential control for elm leaf beetle has become available with the development of insecticides extracted from the seeds of the neem tree, Azadirachta indica. Azadirachtin has been shown to have a wide range of effects on many insect pests, with the primary effects being antifeedent activity and disruption of hormonal processes (1). Depending on the species of insect, azadirachtin has been observed to cause incomplete molting and metamorphosis (7), disruption of mating (9) and starvation by influencing swallowing and gut motility (11).

Azadirachtin has demonstrated high efficacy rates against lepidopteran ornamental pests such as the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (5) and the spruce budworm, Chorsitopneurafumiferana (12). Efficacy against leaf beetles on shade trees has not been evaluated. However, azadirachtin has been found to be effective against the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, a foliage feeder on potatoes (3).

Neem-derived insecticides have several advantages for use in urban areas. These advantages include low mammalian toxicity (1,6), minimal impact on beneficial insects and short field persistence (10). The purpose of this study was to determine if neem-derived insecticides can be an effective control agent for the control of elm leaf beetle.

Methods and Materials

Larval bioassays

Elm leaf beetle eggs were field collected from the Ft. Collins, Colorado area in June of 1991. The eggs were placed in Petri dishes, sealed with Parafilm and maintained in a growth chamber (photoperiod 16 L:8 D) at 25 ± 1 °C. Sufficient number of eggs were collected to allow a uniform age of 48 to 72 h post-eclosion for each of the three instars.

Serial dilutions ranging from 1:80 to 1:640 were prepared with Margosan-O® (0.3% azadirachtin, Grace-Sierra Crop Protection Company, Milpitas, CA). Freshly collected Siberian elm (Ulmuspumila) leaves were dipped for 5 seconds and allowed to air dry (approximately 30 minutes). The larvae were then placed onto the foliage in petri dishes and sealed with Parafilm. Fifteen 1st and 2nd instar larvae and twelve 3rd instar larvae were placed in each petri dish, respectively. There were six replications per dilution for each instar. Mortality was recorded at 48, 96 and 216 hr. In addition, mortality of 3rd instar was monitored through 13 days (312 hr) to determine if the treated larvae would develop into adults. Fresh untreated Siberian elm leaves were placed in the Petri dishes after 48 hr. The larvae were maintained in an incubator (photoperiod 16 L:8 D) at a constant 25± 1 °C for the duration of the study. Differences in larval mortality between concentrations were analyzed by ANOVA and means were separated by the Student-Newman-Keuls multiple range test (P < 0.05) (SAS 1988).

Antifeedant activity was assessed by painting both surfaces of one-half of a freshly collected Siberian elm leaf with an azadirachtin treatment. Four concentrations of Margosan-O® (1:80,1:160, 1:320 and 1:640) were evaluated for all three instars. The remaining half of each treated leaf was then treated with water. Larvae were placed on the midrib of the leaf which separated the treated and untreated halves of the leaf. The larvae were maintained in a Parafilm-sealed petri dish (photoperiod 16 L:8 D) at a constant 25± 1 °C. After 48 hr, larval location was recorded as off leaf, on treated or untreated portion of leaf.

Ovicide testing

Eleven elm leaf beetle egg masses (24-48 hr old) were flagged on field grown Siberian elm trees. Six of the egg masses were treated with Bio-Neem® (0.3% azadirachtin, 1:100 dilution, Ringer Corporation, 9959 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344) and five egg masses were treated with water. All treatments were sprayed to the point of run-off on the evening of 10 May, 1992. Eggs were allowed to remain on the trees until hatch was completed. On 11 June, they were returned to the laboratory and percentage of egg hatch assessed. A total of 107 untreated eggs and 140 treated eggs were counted in the trial.

Field trials

Field trials were conducted during 1993 on mature elm trees (Ulmus sp.) located in a municipal park in Denver, Colorado. The field trial was conducted on 15 June 1993, when elm leaf beetle eggs had just begun to hatch and minimal injury had occurred to the leaves. A single treatment of Azatin EC® (3% azadirachtin, 16 fl. oz/100 gal, Agri Dyne Technologies, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT 84108) was applied to run-off. The treatment was applied with a commercial hydraulic sprayer (Meyers Corp. #7360, maximum output 60 gpm). Single trees were considered individual plots, with a buffer tree separating each treatment tree to avoid effects from drift. There were six replications arranged in a randomized complete block design. Plots were evaluated 26 June, 14 and 26 July 1993 by determining the percent of leaves with feeding injury from terminals collected from the four cardinal points of each tree. This involved use of injury rating of 0-10 (0 = no damage, 1=1-10% of leaves with injury, 2 = 11-20% of leaves with injury, etc.) similar to that used by Brewer (2). Differences in leaf injury between treatments were determined using the Student-Newman-Keuls Test (P < 0.05) (SAS 1988).

Results and Discussion

Larval bioassays

1st Instar

After 216 hr (9 days), mortality among treated larvae was significantly greater than the control, at all concentrations (Table 1). After 216 hr, mortality ranged from 98.9% to 100% among the four different concentrations. Background mortality among the control larvae was comparable to previously observed mortality of greater than 50% in field observations of 1st instar elm leaf beetle larvae (13).

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Table 1.

Percent mortality of Instar I elm leaf beetle (Xanthogaleruca luteola) after consuming Siberian elm leaves (Ulmus pumila) treated with various concentrations of Margosan-O® (Al = 0.3% azadirachtin) after 48, 96 and 216 hours.

2nd Instar

Mortality was significantly higher among the four azadirachtin concentrations than the control at all three time intervals (Table 1). After 48 hr, mortality at the concentrations of 1:80 and 1:160 was significantly higher than the lower concentrations of 1:320 and 1:640. After 96 hr, there was no significant difference in mortality rates between all four concentrations (mortality ranged from 87.8% to 93.3%). This may indicate that a minimum amount of azadirachtin is required to initiate the physiological activity required to induce initial high levels of mortality.

3rd Instar

After 96 hr, mortality among all 4 concentrations was not significantly different than the control (Table 1). After 312 hr, mortality (97.2% to 100%) for all four concentrations was significantly higher than the control.

Developmental disorders were observed in all three instars 48 hr afterfeeding on the azadirachtin treated foliage. The first and second instar larvae that survived showed precocious development. In the process of ecdysis, the larvae were observed to have difficulty in extracting themselves from their exoskeleton. Many 1 st and 2nd instar larvae were found with head and thorax protruding from the old exoskeleton with the abdomen still attached. The azadirachtin also appeared to accelerate the maturation of an instar. The early stages of an instar, which are typically dark in color, would begin to prematurely take on the extensive yellowing of the latter stage of the same instar.

Several growth abnormalities were observed in all azadirachtin treated third instars. Third instar larvae were noticeably smaller than those larvae from the control group. The azadirachtin also appeared to accelerate the maturation of the third instar. Pre-pupal third instar larvae normally curl into a C-shape prior to pupating. This behavior appeared very early in the third instar stage for those larvae which fed on the treated foliage at all concentrations. Third instar larvae also developed a noticeable bulging of the thorax. After 13 days, only 7 larvae (all were still in the pre-pupal stage) from the treated group survived. Only 1 larva actually completed pupation and emerged as an adult. This adult was pink in color as opposed to olive green and black. In the control group, 50 third instar larvae out of the original 72 larvae pupated to adults.

In the antifeedant study, larvae of all instars showed evidence of avoidance of azadirachtin-treated foliage after 48 hr (Figure 1). Few larvae remained on the treated leaf surfaces, and most which did were found along the mid-rib. A minimum amount of treated foliage was consumed.

Figure 1.
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Figure 1.

Location of Instar I, II, and III elm leaf beetle larvae 48 hours after being given a choice of leaf position on Margosan-O® (Al 0.3% azadirachtin) treated or untreated foliage. Total of six replications.

Ovicide testing

Treatment of elm leaf beetle egg masses with Bio-Neem® indicated ovicidal activity (Table 2). Treated masses contained large numbers of eggs that darkened within days of treatment and failed to hatch. Overall, 25.0 percent of the treated eggs did hatch, in comparison to 76.6 percent of those in the water check treatment. However, the majority of egg hatch occurred in only one of the six treated egg masses (33 of 35 eggs hatched). Furthermore, larvae observed to emerge from neem-treated eggs usually died shortly after hatch.

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Table 2.

Effect of Bio-neem® insecticide (Al 0.3% azadirachtin) application on hatching of elm leaf beetle eggs.

Field trials, neem insecticides

Field applications of the neem-derived insecticide, Azatin®, achieved excellent control of elm leaf beetle larvae (Table 3). Nearly complete control of feeding was observed throughout the season on treated trees. A small second generation of beetles prevented assessment of the persistence of these treatments. However a slight increase in foliage damage did occur during midsummer on treated trees, suggesting that persistence on foliage was limited to control of first generation larvae.

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Table 3.

Control of elm leaf beetle defoliation from an application of Azatin® (Al 3.0% azadirachtin) insecticide, Denver, CO 1993. Applications made 15 June 1993.

Commercial neem formulations that contain azadirachtin have been found to be effective against all three larval instars of the elm leaf beetle. This allows for an expanded application window forthe arborist. The ovicide study indicates that neem formulations which contain azadirachtin also may have potential as an ovicide. Azadirachtin’s low mammalian toxicity and short persistence give the arborist a safe alternative to currently used broad-spectrum insecticides.

Acknowledgment

Funding for this research was supported, in part, from Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station project 319.

  • © 1995, International Society of Arboriculture. All rights reserved.

Literature Cited

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Toxicity of Neem-Derived Insecticides to Various Life Stages of The ELM Leaf Beetle
Rick J. Zimmerman, D. Casey Sclar, Terri Randolph, Whitney S. Cranshaw
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jul 1995, 21 (4) 181-186; DOI: 10.48044/joa.1995.21.4.181

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Toxicity of Neem-Derived Insecticides to Various Life Stages of The ELM Leaf Beetle
Rick J. Zimmerman, D. Casey Sclar, Terri Randolph, Whitney S. Cranshaw
Arboriculture & Urban Forestry (AUF) Jul 1995, 21 (4) 181-186; DOI: 10.48044/joa.1995.21.4.181
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