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Repellent Action of Diatomaceous Earth Against the Adult Red Flour Beetle Tribolium Castaneum (herbst)

A. M. S. Reza
Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh

M. M. Hossain
Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh

S. Parween
Department of Zoology, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) adults were released to choice chambers containing untreated flour in one half and diatomaceous earth (DE)-treated flour in the other half. The doses of DE used were 2-32 mg/g. Females, males and unsexed adults were exposed separately to each dose for 24-, 48-, 72-, 96- and 120-h. DE at 32 mg/g strongly repelled (P<0.001) both sexes and unsexed beetles at all exposure periods. The males showed comparatively more avoidance to DE-treated flour at longer exposures.

Keywords: Repellent; Diatomaceous earth; Tribolium castaneum.

Location: Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Rajshahi University

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Pest Management

Non-commodity: Performance

Objectives:

The present research is aimed to observe the activity of Mitex (a DE formulation) as either attractant or repellent, against the sexed and unsexed adult T. castaneum.

Methodology:

Collection of T. castaneum: Large number of adult T. castaneum was collected from the stock culture of the beetles, reared in the Entomology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Rajshahi University. The adults were placed on standard food (1:9 whole wheat flour: brewer’s yeast) in a 500ml beaker, and was covered with fine meshed cloth to avoid escape of the beetles. After 24 hours the food was passed through a 250μm mesh sieve to collect the eggs. Hundred of the eggs were then placed on standard food in glass Petri dishes and reared until the pupae were formed. After every three days the food was replaced by a fresh one to avoid conditioning by the beetles. The 2-day old pupae were sexed by examining the exogenital process of the females under microscope. The male and female pupae were kept separately. While a number of pupae were left unsexed. The pupae were allowed to emerge as adults. Test material and doses used: Mitex, a commercial product containing diatomaceous earth (DE), marketed by Agril, UK was used in this experiment. The experimental doses of Mitex used were 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32 mg/g of standard food. Experimentation: The experiment was conducted in a choice chamber as described by Mathlein. The choice chamber was made of a plastic Petri dish (9 cm diameter), which was divided into two equal halves by drawing a line across the middle. By the use of a partition one half of the choice chamber was loaded with untreated wheat flour and the other half with DE-treated flour. Twenty 7-day old adults were released in the middle line of the choice chamber, thus providing the beetles an option for choosing either treated or untreated food. The experiment was set separately for male, female and unsexed adults of T. castaneum. The experiment was set separately for male, female and unsexed beetles, for each dose of DE, and each exposure period of 24-, 48-, 72-, 96- and 120 hr. After each exposure period, both treated and untreated flour was carefully poured into separate Petri dishes and then passed through a 500 μm sieve to separate beetles from the flour. Number of the adults found on each half of the choice chamber was counted and recorded separately. The experiment was conducted at room temperature with three replications for each set of experiment. Statistical analysis: The percentage of differences of the beetles in the treated and untreated food was measured by chi-square test to determine the level of significance.

Source of Information: J. Sci. Res. 4 (3), 783-788 (2012)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present results revealed that DE (Mitex) can be used as a reduced risk repellent compound in the grain and cereal stores, flour mills and grocery shops to resist infestation by T. castaneum.

Knowledge Management: Journal