title: Influence of temperature and humidity on insecticidal effect of three diatomaceous earth formulations against larger grain borer (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae).
abstract: Laboratory experiments were carried out to evaluated three diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations--Protect-It, PyriSec (at dose rates 500, 1000, and 1500 ppm), and DEA-P (at dose rates 75, 150, and 500 ppm)--against the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), adults in stored maize, Zea mays L., at three temperatures (20, 25, and 30 degrees C) and two relative humidity (RH) levels (55 and 75%). At these conditions, the capability of progeny production in the treated substrate also was assessed. Adult survival was high, at all doses of Protect-It and PyriSec. Progeny production was also high. In contrast with the other two DEs, DEA-P was highly effective and caused complete mortality to the exposed P. truncatus adults, even at the lowest dose rate (75 ppm). In addition, progeny production was completely suppressed. Generally, Protect-it and PyriSec were more effective at 20 degrees C than at 30 degrees C. In contrast, the efficacy of DEA-P was continuously high in all temperatures and relative humidities examined.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odosstr., 11855, Athens, Attica, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Athanassiou
authors.forename: Nickolas G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Kavallieratos
authors.forename: Gerassimos G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Peteinatos
authors.forename: Stamatina E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Petrou
authors.forename: Maria C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Boukouvala
authors.forename: Zeljko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tomanović
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000502:physiology; D007692:Diatomaceous Earth / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D006813:Humidity; D007300:Insect Control; D007306:Insecticides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013696:Temperature; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D007692:Diatomaceous Earth