Efficacy of layer treatment with methoprene for control of Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) on wheat, rice andmaize

Authors

Christos G. Athanassiou, University of ThessalyFollow
Frank H. Arthur, USDA-ARSFollow
James E. Throne, USDA-ARS, Manhattan, KSFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2011

Citation

Pest Manag Sci 2011; 67: 380–384

Comments

Copyright 2011 Society of Chemical Industry

This document is a U.S. government work and is not subject to copyright in the United States.

DOI 10.1002/ps.2064

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Insect growth regulators are promising alternatives to traditional pesticides in stored grain. The efficacy of the juvenile hormone analogue methoprene was evaluated as a layer treatment in a laboratory experiment for control of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) in wheat, rice and maize.

RESULTS: Adults of R. dominica were placed in vials containing 33, 26 and 29 g (to a depth of 6.5 cm) of wheat, rice and maize, respectively, that was entirely or partially treated with 1, 5 or 10mg kg⁻¹ methoprene. In wheat and rice, the layer treatments were not as effective as the whole-grain treatment, but there was decreased progeny production as the application rate increased. However, on maize the partial treatments were as effective as the whole-grain treatment at 5 and 10 mg kg⁻¹.

CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that partial layer treatments with methoprene can be used to control R. dominica on maize but may not be effective for control of this species on wheat and rice.