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ARS Home » Plains Area » Manhattan, Kansas » Center for Grain and Animal Health Research » Stored Product Insect and Engineering Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313603
Title: Efficacy of methyl bromide for control of different life stages of stored-product psocids

Author
item ATHANASSIOU, CHRISTOS - University Of Thessaly
item HASAN, M. MAHBUB - Kansas State University
item PHILLIPS, THOMAS - Kansas State University
item AIKINS, JAMIE - Kansas State University
item Throne, James
item Arthur, Franklin

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/11/2015
Publication Date: 4/7/2015
Citation: Athanassiou, C.G., Hasan, M.M., Phillips, T.W., Aikins, M.J., Throne, J.E. 2015. Efficacy of methyl bromide for control of different life stages of stored-product psocids. Journal of Economic Entomology. 108:1-7. DOI: http://dx.doi.org.10.1093/jee/tov069.

Interpretive Summary: Despite the phase-out of many uses of the fumigant methyl bromide, it is still used for quarantine and preshipment treatments where psocids (insects which are also called booklice) may be an issue. Methyl bromide has been evaluated for control of many insect species, but there are few data available on its efficacy for control of stored-product psocids. Psocids are pests of stored grains and grain products in most of the world, and they have natural tolerance to some of the insecticides used for control of stored-product insects. We evaluated methyl bromide for control of different life stages of the psocids Liposcelis bostrychophila, L. decolor, L. entomophila, L. paeta, and Lepinotus reticulatus (psocids generally are known only by their scientific names). Adults and nymphs were very susceptible to methyl bromide, and complete mortality was recorded at concentrations between 0.027 and 0.280 g/m3 in 48-hour fumigations. In contrast, eggs were by far more tolerant than adults and nymphs for all species tested. At 0.027 g/m3, egg mortality did not exceed 53%, while survival was high even at 0.113 g/m3. Complete egg mortality was recorded at 0.393 g/m3 for L. decolor and at 0.452 g/m3 for L. entomophila and L. bostrychophila. These results show that stored-product psocids are susceptible to methyl bromide, but concentrations of 0.452 g/m3 or higher for 48 hours should be used to control all life stages.

Technical Abstract: The psocid species Liposcelis paeta Pearman, L. entomophila (Enderlein), L. decolor (Pearman), L. bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), and Lepinotus reticulatus Enderlein (Psocoptera: Trogiidae) were evaluated in laboratory bioassays to determine their susceptibility to six concentrations of methyl bromide (0.027, 0.113, 0.280, 0.393, 0.452, and 0.616 g/m3) after 48 h of exposure at 27.5o C. The life stages that were evaluated were adults (for all species), nymphs (for all species exceptLep. reticulatus), and eggs (for L. entomophila, L. decolor, and L. bostrychophila). Adults and nymphs were very susceptible, and complete mortality was recorded at concentrations between 0.027 to 0.280 g/m3. In contrast, eggs were by far more tolerant than adults and nymphs for all species tested. At 0.027 g/m3, mortality did not exceed 53%, while survival was high even at 0.113 g/m3. Complete (100%) egg mortality was recorded at 0.393 g/m3 for L. decolor and at 0.452 g/m3 for L. entomophila and L. bostrychophila; concentrations estimated to give 99% mortality for eggs of these three species were 0.710g/m3, 1.044g/m3, and 0.891g/m3, respectively. These results show that stored-product psocids are susceptible to methyl bromide, but concentrations of 0.452 g/m3or higher should be used to control all life stages.