Lethal effects of low atmosphere pressures on various developmental stages of tribolium castaneum (herbst) and ephestia kuehniella (zeller) under laboratory conditions [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

Decreased atmosphere pressures were applied to create low oxygen atmosphere to be used as an efficient alternative method of methyl bromide and phosphine fumigations for controlling the stored product pests. In the current study, efficacy of some low pressures of atmosphere (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mm Hg on adult and 20 and 40 mm Hg on developmental stages) were investigated against two common stored-product insects; the red flour beetle [Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)] and the Mediterranean flour moth [Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)] to determine their mortality rate in relation to different low pressures at 30°C. Adults of T. castaneum required 0.54 and 32.69 hr. as exposure period at 20 and 100 mm Hg, respectively to achieve 50% mortality (LT50). While, these LT50 values were 1.42 and 36.42 hr for E. kuehniella, respectively. LT50 values for eggs, larvae and pupae of T. castaneum in 20 mm Hg were 4.92, 0.86 and 5.35 mm Hg, respectively, while those of E. kuehniella were10.13, 3.60 and 0.95 hr, respectively. The values at 40 mm Hg for eggs, larvae and pupae of T. castaneum were 15.58,6.06 and 11.78 hr, respectively. While those for E. kuehniella were 33.55, 9.58 and 3.41 hr, respectively. These results indicated that the susceptibility of these insects to reduced atmospheric pressure increased by decreasing the atmosphere pressure. Application of decreased atmospheric pressure as one of the safe methods in pest management has a potential efficacy for controlling stored-product insects.

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