Test species

Typhlodromus pyri

Predatory mite - key species for initial rate-response testing to determine a Hazard Quotient.  Protonymphs are exposed in accordance with Blümel et al. (2000).

Aphidius rhopalosiphi

Parasitic wasp attacking cereal aphids - second key species in the hard quotient exercise.  Freshly emerged adults are exposed in accordance with Mead-Briggs et al. (2000).

Orius laevigatus

Predatory Heteropteran, relevant as a foliar dwelling species for broad-leaved crops.

Chrysoperla carnea

Green lacewing, predatory as a larva, relevant as a foliar dwelling species.  Larvae are exposed to test item following the guideline of Vogt et al. (2000).

Trichogramma cacoeciae

Minute parasite of Lepidoptera eggs, tested in addition to Aphidius, particularly where t here is a Southern European relevance.

Leptomastix dactylopii

Parasite of scale insects, particularly relevant for citrus.  Tested in small glass cells.

Coccinella septempunctata

Predator of aphids as larvae and adults, a foliar dwelling species, difficult to test because of high incidence of disease in cultured specimens.

Aleochara bilineata

Soil dwelling staphylinid beetle parasitic of fly eggs.  In medium test.

Poecilus cupreus

Surface active predator in arable and broad acre crops.  Tested as an adult, extremely robust and insensitive to all except the most harmful pesticides.

Pardosa spp.

Wolf spider, surface active predator in arable and vegetable crops.  Unlike the above, where laboratory reared specimens are tested, Pardosa tests use field collected spiders and therefore only take place in late spring and early summer.

Apis melifera

Honey bee acute and topical LD50 studies to OECD (1998) 213 and 214 and EPPO (1992) guidelines.

Eisenia fetida

Laboratory cultured worm species, acute toxicity studies to OECD (1984) guideline 207 and reproduction studies.

Collembola

Reproduction of a soil dwelling springtail.  Fulsomia candida, tested to ISO (1999) method 11267.

Hypoaspis

Soil dwelling mite tested according to methodology provided by F. Bakker of Mitox, Amsterdam.