Sublethal and transgenerational effects of short-term and chronic exposures to the neonicotinoid nitenpyram on the cotton aphid Aphis gossypii

Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a polyphagous pest worldwide. Neonicotinoid insecticides, such as nitenpyram, are widely used for its control in cotton crops. Sublethal or low exposure to these insecticides can cause contrasting effects on arthropod pest populations. Through laboratory experiments, we assessed the impact of low nitenpyram concentrations on the exposed A. gossypii generation (F0) and on its progeny (F1). Nitenpyram caused sublethal effects on reproduction and longevity in the aphids directly exposed (F0) to low doses. However, the estimated demographic indexes of the progeny (F1) of those individuals exposed for 72 h were higher than those of the control population. This is the first laboratory evidence of a transgenerational hormesis owing to low lethal and sublethal nitenpyram concentrations. Although these findings must be validated in real cropping conditions, it could be expected that, in addition to the acute effects that usually occur at high (label) doses, sublethal effects and hormesis can occur on the pest populations over time among insecticide applications in the field.