Researchers built tiny-particle versions of two common insecticides that don't harm a parasitic wasp used for pest control. Paired with the wasps, they suppressed over 82% of common cutworm populations, since the pesticide works fast and the wasps keep working after it fades.
1
Nano-pesticide particles measured 105 nm (abamectin) and 215 nm (chlorantraniliprole), with strongly positive zeta potentials of +50.84 mV and +47.57 mV.
2
The nano-formulations were roughly 20-30% more toxic to common cutworms than the plain pesticides, and parasitoid wasp eclosion rate stayed at 100%.
3
Combining nano-pesticides with Meteorus pulchricornis wasps gave over 82% cutworm population suppression in simulated conditions; the HLDP carrier only became lethal to wasps orally at very high doses (LC50 = 5.643 mg/mL).
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