Assessing Toxicity of the Insecticide Thiacloprid on Chironomus riparius (Insecta: Diptera)

Since data documentation on neonicotinic toxicity to nontarget organisms should be enhanced, the effects of thiacloprid, a novel neonicotinoid insecticide, on the sediment-dwelling nontarget insect Chironomus riparius were investigated. C. riparius was impacted starting at concentrations of 0.5 μg/L, a concentration that can be considered environmentally relevant. Larval mortality, behavior, emergence, and Hsp70 protein level were sensitive indicators for the toxic effect of thiacloprid, whereas gender ratio and mouthpart morphology were not affected.

Source: Langer-Jaesrich M et al (2010) Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 58(4):963-972
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