Toxicity of the anthelmintic abamectin to four species of soil invertebrates.

Abamectin is a veterinary medicinal product with high efficiency against parasitics. This study evaluates the sublethal toxicity of abamectin to three groups of soil dwelling organisms (springtails, enchytraeids and earthworms). The reproduction of the two springtail species Folsomia fimetaria and Folsomia candida was significantly affected at abamectin concentrations of 0.25 and 0.5 mg/kg DW, respectively. Adults of especially F. candida were less sensitive. Abamectin had no effect on the survival of enchytraeids, whereas the number of juveniles was reduced at concentrations above 10 mg/kg. The EC10 values for reproduction were in the range of 0.05 mg/kg for springtails and 12.8 mg/kg for enchytraeids. Abamectin also had a significant effect on the reproduction of earthworms with an EC10 value of 0.06 mg/kg. However, no change in the survival and growth of juvenile earthworms was observed following 70 days of exposure.