EFFECT OF PESTICIDAL APPLICATION DURING THE EARLY AND LATE COTTON SEASON ON THE ABUNDANCE OF CERTAIN PREDATORS ASSOCIATED WITH COTTON PLANTS

The output of inspection resulted in the following common predators: Orius laevigatus Fieb., Orius albidipennis Reut. (Hem., Anthocoridae); Chrysoperla carnea Steph. (Neur., Chrysopidae); Coccinella undecimpunctata L., Scymnus syriacus Mars, Scymnus interruptus Goeze (Col., Coccinellidae). It was found that the 6 insect species appeared on the cotton plants during the last week of April or the first week of May. The population increased gradually during May and the first two weeks of June then decreased during the second two weeks of June and the first week of july. Orius spp. constitutes more than 50\% of the inspected species. Data show that application of kelthane-S and methomyl against mites and aphids slightly reduced the population of these predators, percent reduction ranged between 10.6-17.9\%. The same species previously inspected during the early season were found during the second half of the season, except C. undecimpunetata.