Exploring the efficacy of pyrethroid incorporated-nets for the control of stored product moth species: Immediate and delayed effects on Ephestia kuehniella and Plodia interpunctella

Authors: ALTUNÇ, YUNUS - Ordu University; SAKKA, MARIA - University Of Thessaly; GOURGOUTA, MARINA - University Of Thessaly; Morrison, William - Rob; GÜNCAN, ALI - University Of Thessaly; ATHANASSIOU, CHRISTOS - University Of Thessaly

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2024
Publication Date: 7/24/2024
Citation: Altunç, Y.E., Sakka, M., Gourgouta, M., Morrison III, W.R., Güncan, A., Athanassiou, C.G. 2024. Exploring the efficacy of pyrethroid incorporated-nets for the control of stored product moth species: Immediate and delayed effects on Ephestia kuehniella and Plodia interpunctella. Journal of Economic Entomology. 117(5):(2159-2167). https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae151.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/toae151

Interpretive Summary: Insect pests pose a significant threat to stored commodities, which requires sustainable and diverse pest management strategies. One such promising tactic are long-lasting insecticide-incorporated nets (LLINs), which do not require direct contact with the commodity, thus minimizing pesticide residues. They also have a reduced ecological impact on non-target insect species compared to conventional chemical approaches. However, insecticide nets have not been evaluated against stored product moths such as Mediterranean flour moth and Indian meal moth, which are cosmopolitan and highly destructive. We investigated the immediate and delayed effects of two commercial pyrethroid-incorporated nets, Carifend® (0.34% a-cypermethrin) and D-Terrence® (0.4% deltamethrin), on the adult and larval stages of these two moths. Both insecticide nets demonstrated high efficacy in controlling both moth species, with mortality rates reaching up to 100% depending on exposure time and period after exposure. Particularly rapid knockdown was observed with D-Terrence® of Indian meal moth after just a 30 min exposure. This finding is significant given that adults are the primary dispersing life stage at food facilities. Larvae was the more resistant life stage, but even here, 81-91% of individuals from both species were immediately knocked down and rendered immobile, following 5 h exposure to insecticide nets. Although work is needed to understand why larvae are more resistant than adults to insecticide netting, these findings highlight the promise of insecticide nets as a pest management tool in storage and processing facilities against these important stored product moths.

Technical Abstract: Insect pests pose a significant threat to stored commodities, necessitating the exploration of alternative pest management strategies. Long-lasting insecticide-incorporated nets (LLINs) have emerged as a promising tool, offering selectivity and reduced ecological impact compared to conventional chemical approaches. However, their efficacy against Ephestia kuehniella Zeller and Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), cosmopolitan stored product moth species, has remained underexplored. This study investigated the immediate and delayed effects of two commercial pyrethroid-incorporated nets, Carifend® (0.34% a-cypermethrin) and D-Terrence® (0.4% deltamethrin), on the adult and larval stages of these pyralid species. Both LLINs demonstrated high efficacy in controlling E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella, with mortality rates reaching up to 100% depending on exposure duration and post-exposure periods. Particularly, rapid knockdown observed with D-Terrence® net inducing 100% knockdown in P. interpunctella adults after just a 30 min exposure. LLINs achieved almost 100% immediate mortality rate against adults after just 1 d of exposure. In addition, immediate knockdown rates reached as high as 81 and 91% in E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella larvae, respectively, following just 5 h of exposure to the D-Terrence® net. Different responses were observed between the adult and larval stages, with larvae exhibiting higher tolerance and potential for recovery from knockdown in short exposures. There were increasing mortality rates after exposure with LLIN. These findings highlight the potential of LLINs as a pest management tool in storage and processing facilities against these important stored product moths. Understanding the differential responses between life stages and the significance of delayed effects is crucial for optimizing LLIN deployment strategies.