The oligophagous pest
Plutella xylostella
(L.) is a major crucifer pest in Tehran Province, Iran. Hexaflumuron is an insect
growth regulator insecticide with good effects on immature insect stages. The objective of this study was to investigate the
effects of two sublethal concentrations (LC
10 and LC
25) of hexaflumuron on some biological parameters of
P. xylostella
larvae, such as birth rate (
b), death rate (
d), finite rate of increase (
λ), generation time (
T), sex ratio, pupation rate, and adult
emergence. Results showed that hexaflumuron decreased the total number of eggs and oviposition and post-oviposition
periods, pupation, and adult emergence in the treated generation,
b, and
λ. Hexaflumuron also increased
T,
d, and the preoviposition
period. However, sex ratio, percentage of pupation, and adult emergence in the offspring generation were not
affected by hexaflumuron. Overall, these results indicated that sublethal concentrations of hexaflumuron can affect the
biological parameters of
P. xylostella.
