Most of the work concerning pest control with botanical products emphasizes its compatibility with biological control. However, several authors have demonstrated variations in the sensitivity of Trichogramma spp. to such products. This research was carried out to evaluate the effect of the treatment of eggs of Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) with Meliaceae extracts on the parasitism by Trichogramma pretiosum Riley. Host eggs were immersed, before and after parasitism, in two leaf extracts of Trichilia pallida Swartz (aqueous and chloroformic) and an aqueous seed extract of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (neem) in the concentration of 10% (w/v). Results indicated that T. pretiosum is sensitive to the aqueous seed extract of neem in a concentration of 10% and that the aqueous and chloroformic leaf extracts of T. pallida in the same concentration neither affect the capacity of parasitism nor the development of the parasitoid inside the host egg.
Insecta; insecticide plant; biological control; integrated pest management
