Relative toxic effects of two retail lawn pesticides on the house cricket, Acheta domesticus

Crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) are widely-distributed and play a significant role in ecosystems, where they are generalist detritivores that are consumed by many other organisms. Crickets are common in urban and suburban areas; however, little published data exist on their susceptibility to lawn insecticide treatments. Therefore, the present study assessed the effects of two common retail pesticides, Triazicide (containing 0.08% gamma-cyhalothrin) and Complete Insect Killer (containing 2.3% carbaryl and 0.058% bifenthrin), on the survival of adult house crickets, Acheta domesticus. A concentration series of the label-rate product of Triazicide or Complete Insect Killer included dilutions of 1/1000, 1/100, 1/10, and 1 (i.e., full recommended product rate) with water. Four replications (N = 10 per trial) of each treatment and a water-only control were conducted at room temperature with individual crickets dipped in the tested compound. After exposure, replicates were kept in 59-milliliter disposable covered plastic cups,provided with a damp cotton ball, and were checked after 24 hr. Triazicide was more toxic than Complete Insect Killer and displayed a dose-response. At the highest dose (full product rate) Triazicide caused 100% ± 0 mortality and Complete Insect Killer produced 93% ± 14 mortality. This study provides data on the toxicity of two lawn pesticides and highlights the possible use of house crickets as model organisms for toxicity assays.