The Biologist (Lima) ISSN Versión Impresa 1816-0719 ISSN Versión en linea 1994-9073 ISSN Versión CD ROM 1994-9081 ORIGINAL ARTICLE /ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL ACUTE AND CHRONIC TOXICITY OF TAGETES ELLIPTICA (ASTERACEAE) AND DIMETHOATE ON PREDATORS AND PARASITOIDS OF AGRICULTURAL PESTS OF IMPORTANCE IN PERU TOXICIDAD AGUDA Y CRÓNICA DE TAGETES ELLIPTICA (ASTERACEAE) Y DIMETOATO SOBRE DEPREDADORES Y PARASITOIDES DE PLAGAS DE IMPORTANCIA AGRÍCOLA EN PERU 1 Laboratorio de Ecología y Biodiversidad Animal (LEBA). Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Matemática (FCNNM). Universidad Nacional Federico Villarreal (UNFV). El Agustino, Lima, Perú. 2 Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas. Universidad Ricardo Palma (URP). Santiago de Surco, Lima, Perú. 3 Museo de Historia Natural. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM). Lima, Perú. 4 Dirección General. Centro de Investigaciones Avanzadas y Formación Superior en Educación, Salud y Medio Ambiente ¨AMTAWI¨, Perú. 5 Facultad de Tecnología de la Salud «Julio Trigo López». Universidad de Ciencias Médicas «Dr. Serafín Ruiz de Zárate Ruiz» de Villa Clara, Cuba. 6 Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (UNMSM). Lima, Perú. E-mail: joseiannacone@gmail.com The Biologist (Lima), 13(2), jul-dec: 329-347. ABSTRACT Keywords: predator - dimethoate- parasitoids - biocide plants - Tagetes. Tagetes elliptica Smith "Chincho", or "black mint sacha" is a plant used as a biocide in ecological agriculture mainly for its essential oils like cis/trans-Epoximyrcene. Dimethoate is an organophosphate insecticide with action of contact and ingestion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute and chronic toxicity of T. elliptica and dimethoate on six predators and parasitoids of agricultural pests from Peru. Toxicity tests for Chrysoperla externa, Ch. asoralis, Orius insidiosus, Geocoris callosulus, Trichogramma pretiosum and T. pintoi used T. elliptica and dimethoate with five concentrations plus control. Regarding acute tests with the "chincho", it was observed the following sequence from highest to lowest based on toxicity of median lethal concentration (LC ) (48 h): C. externa > T. pretiosum > C. asoralis > T. pintoi > O. insidiosus 50 (nymph) > O. insidiosus (adult) > G. callosulus (nymph) > G. callosulus (adult). In exchange for dimethoate was: T. pintoi > T. pretiosum > C. externa > C. asoralis > O. insidiosus (adult) > O. insidiosus (nymph) > G. callosulus (adult) > G. callosulus (nymph). In relation to chronic tests with "chincho" decreasing the following sequence was observed lower toxicity: C. externa> C. asoralis > T. pintoi > T. pretiosum. Finally, for dimethoate: C. externa > C. asoralis > T. pretiosum > T. pintoi. Dimethoate showed harmful effects on the six species of beneficial insects compared to the "chincho" that was less risky. 1,2 1 1,3 1 José Iannacone ; Lorena Alvariño ; María Isabel La Torre ; Angélica Guabloche ; 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 Karen Ventura ; Jhon Chero ; Celso Cruces ; Seid Romero ; Eduardo Tuesta ; Gloria Saez ; Debora MacDonald ; 2 4 5 6 Gonzalo Tueros ; George Argota ; Rigoberto Fimia & Mario Carhuapoma 329