Silicon-imidachloprid interaction on the biological and feed behavior of Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on wheat plants

The greenbug Schizaphis graminum (Rond.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the main pest insects on wheat crop, being capable of leading a plant to death by sap suction and toxin injection, in addition to transmitting viruses. A strategy recommended to the management of aphids on wheat is the use of selective insecticides, mainly in the seed treatment. This way, in this research, the objective was to monitor the feeding behavior of S. graminum on wheat plants treated with silicon and/or imidachloprid, in addition to evaluate some biological features of the insect. The experiment was carried out at the Entomology Department, UFLA, on wheat cultivar Embrapa 22, S. graminum, 1% silicic acid, and imidachloprid seed treatment. The biology assay was conduced, starting at 15, 30, and 45 days after the seed germination, and the honeydew excretion was evaluated. The treatments were distributed in factorial scheme 2 (with silicon and without silicon) x 2 (with imidachloprid and without imidachloprid), with 10 replicates. It was observed that the systemic insecticide imidachloprid acts as a deterrent on adults and it is lethal on nymphs of S. graminum up to 45 days after seed treatment. Furthermore, the plants treated with silicon showed resistance to S. graminum.