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The insecticide fipronil is toxic to the hydrilla tip miner. News for some, a fact for others: Fipronil insecticide run-off can negatively impact biological control agents in aquatic systems.
This is the gist of an interesting study recently published by our research team. In case you have not had the chance to read the paper, we have posted a copy for you on our website. The original paper, titled "Toxicity of fipronil to the midge, Cricotopus lebetis Sublette," is published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health by Karen Stratman et al. 2013 (click here to open).
Briefly, the researchers tested the sensitivity of the hydrilla tip miner to the insecticide fipronil in laboratory experiments. Although fipronil typically is applied in terrestrial systems (for example, to control mole crickets in turf), it ends up in aquatic systems via run-off and drainage water. During the tests, the tip miner suffered high mortality at rates of fipronil that were lower than the concentrations commonly measured in affected freshwater bodies.
In other words: If you want to rely on the tip miner as a biological control for hydrilla, you have to make sure that the infested water body is not adjacent to areas where fipronil is being applied.
Enjoy the reading!
As always, we acknowledge the funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (grant 2010-02825).
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