IMPACT OF PESTICIDE ACRINATHRIN ON Bilobella braunerae DHERVANG (COLLEMBOLA: NEANURIDAE) IN LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS

Laboratory toxicity tests were carried out, to evaluate the effects of acrinathrin on fecundity and moulting intervals of Bilobella braunerae Dhervang (Collembola) grown in sub lethal concentration is 1.2612 ppm of acrinathrin pesticide. The Collembola feeding on leaves of jackfruit containing Acrinathrin pesticide exhibited trends of increased days in moulting and decreased fecundity rates up to 1.2612 ppm An inhibition of growth and fecundity was seen above the sublethal concentration. Both moulting and fecundity rates were significantly affected by the pesticide presented as food to the collembola. The untreated control sets recorded high fecundity for B. braunerae, but chronic toxicity of the insecticides on adults confined to the treated food resulted into very low fecundity and high moulting rates. Even short duration exposure to acrinathrin treated food for 24 or 72 hours only was found to delay the egg-laying and decrease the fecundity of the species. It is concluded that population responses and reproductive sensitivity in non-target soil microarthropods are potential eco-toxicological parameters for detecting pesticide pollution in soil and for ecological health assessment.