Fecundity of diamondback moth females when offered honey with pyridalyl, a selective insecticide

We previously reported that the presence of pyridalyl, a selective insecticide, in aqueous honey  (50 % v/v) negatively affects the survival of diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella: DBM) adults. However, it remains unclear whether toxicity of pyridalyl in aqueous honey affects the fecundity of adult female DBMs. We analyzed the survival and fecundity of adult DBM under the water, honey, or honey + pyridalyl conditions in glass tubes containing Japanese mustard spinach (Brassica rapa: Komatsuna) leaves for 10 days. The survival of adults under the honey (50 % v/v) and honey + pyridalyl (100-fold dilution) conditions was significantly higher and lower, respectively, than under the water condition during the experimental period. The number of eggs laid by DBM females each day (fecundity) under the water condition was significantly lower than that under the honey condition throughout the experimental period, except on day 1. In contrast, the numbers under the water, and honey + pyridalyl c...