BIOASSAY OF TOXICITY OF INSECTICIDES IN SOIL USING EGGS AND LARVAE OF THE CABBAGE MAGGOT, HYLEMYA BRASSICAE (DIPTERA: ANTHOMYIIDAE)

Abstract

AbstractA bioassay method was developed for estimating persistence and rate of vertical movement of toxic residues of insecticides in soil Laboratory or field microplots of soil 15 to 45 cm deep were enclosed within a metal or plastic framework comprised of 1 or 5 cm sections which could be readily separated for bioassay. Using eggs and larvae of the cabbage maggot, toxic residues of carbofuran could be estimated at concentrations ranging from ca. 0.2 to 30 μg AI/g of dry soil. Higher concentrations were estimated from bioassays on treated soil serially diluted with untreated soil.