TOXICITY OF TWO HERBICIDES 2,4 -D DIMETHYLAMINE AND BENSULFURON METHYL TO RICE FIELD CHIRONOMUS KIIENSIS (TOKUNAGA) ( DIPTERA: CHIRONOMIDAE)

1 INTRODUCTIONRice field is a unique man -made wetland envi-ronment where many varieties of aquatic insects oc-curred ( Ali, Ahmad, 1988; Yamazaki,et al,2001a; Che Salmah, Abu Hassan, 2002). Duringrice cultivation in Malaysia, herbicides are used in-tensi…

TOXICITY OF TWO HERBICIDES 2,4 -D DIMETHYLAMINE AND BENSULFURON METHYL TO RICE FIELD CHIRONOMUS KIIENSIS (TOKUNAGA) ( DIPTERA: CHIRONOMIDAE)

Fourth instar larvae of Chironomus kiiensis(Tokunaga) were exposed to various concentrations of two commonly used herbicides: 2,4 - D Dimethylamine and Bensulfuron methyl in the rice fields. The bioassay experiment was carried out in a rearing unit in the laboratory at a room temperature ( (27 ± 2) ℃ ). A thin layer of sand sediments and tissue papers were provided as substrate in each unit. Each concentration of all herbicides was prepared in 250 mL distilled water. The experiment was performed in triplicate and 20 chironomid larvae were placed in each rearing unit. The larvae were fed with fish food (Sanyuichiban(R)) at 2 d intervals and all units were aerated by air pumps. The experiment was monitored every 24 h for mortality of C. kiiensis. The 2,4 - D Dimethylamine bioassay was carried out for 24 h while Bensulfuron methyl was run for 72 h. Dead larvae, pupae and living or dead adults were counted and removed daily.The LC50 of 2,4 - D Dimethylamine was 2 638 mg ai L-1, more than 2 000 times higher than the recommended dose of 0.753 mg ai L-1 used for controlling weeds in the rice field. Bensulfuron methyl was more toxic than the 2,4 - D Dimethylamine. The LC50 of the Bensulfuron methyl was recorded at 1.29 mg ai L-1, and approximately was more 20 times than that of the recommended dose of 0. 057 mg ai L-1. Bensulfuron methyl was found to be slow acting. The mortality of the larvae was only observed after 72 h. However, this herbicide interfered with the emergence of C. kiiensis to adults at and above the recommended dose used in the rice fields. Based on their LC50 values, this study showed that applying these herbicides in the rice fields at doses recommended by the manufacturers was safe for C. kiiensis and presumably to other living organisms in the water.