Residual efficacy of novaluron applied on concrete, metal and wood for the control of stored product Coleopteran pests

Authors: YASIR, MUHAMMAD - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan; Mankin, Richard; UL HASAN, MANSOOR - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan; SAGHEER, MUHAMMAD - University Of Agriculture - Pakistan

Submitted to: Insects
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/20/2020
Publication Date: 12/25/2020
Citation: Yasir, M., Mankin, R.W., Ul Hasan, M., Sagheer, M. 2020. Residual efficacy of novaluron applied on concrete, metal and wood for the control of stored product Coleopteran pests. Insects. 12(1):Article 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12010007.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/insects12010007

Interpretive Summary: Stored product insect infestations are causing increased commodity losses worldwide due to regulatory loss of traditional control measures, evolution of pesticide resistance and development of more favorable growth conditions due to increasing environmental temperatures. Alternative control measures are required to provide new tools for Insect Pest Management programs to control these stored pest infestations. Researchers at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan, and scientists at the USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, assessed the efficacy of an insect growth regulator, Novaluron, applied at differing concentrations to three different substrates, concrete, metal, and wood, against three species of beetles that are important stored product insect pests. The Novaluron provided effective control all three insect species for 12 weeks, with some effective control sustained on steel surfaces for up to 16 weeks. This information provides pest control workers a baseline guide on application timing to maintain effective control of these important stored pest insects.

Technical Abstract: The residual efficacy of novaluron on concrete, metal and wood was evaluated under laboratory conditions against the larvae of Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Trogoderma granarium Everts. The larvae were exposed to the treated surfaces at the concentrations of 1, 2 or 4 ppm with provision of food source, and bioassays were conducted at 0 week (1 d), 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks post treatment. The efficacy was assessed by the recording the adult emergence of exposed larvae. Novaluron provided satisfactory control of T. castaneum, T. granarium and O. surinamensis up to the period of 12 weeks on all the tested surfaces. At 0 week, no adult emerged in O. surinamensis and T. castaneum and it was not more than 3.3% in T. granarium from larvae exposed to 4 ppm concentration on all surfaces. However, the residual efficacy decreased over time after exposure on all surfaces. Novaluron residues were more persistent on metal surfaces, with adult emergence of < 18.3% in week 12 in all the tested species at 4 ppm. Such results can be helpful for the management of O. surinamensis, T. castaneum and T. granarium as the costs of commonly used pesticides against postharvest insect pests increase in mills, warehouses, and food storage facilities.