Efficacy of grain protectants against four psocid species onmaize, rice and wheat

Authors

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

Date of this Version

2009

Citation

Pest Manag Sci 2009; 65: 1140–1146

Comments

Published 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA

DOI 10.1002/ps.1804

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Psocids are emerging pests in stored products, particularly in amylaceous commodities such as grains. Currently, their control is based on the use of fumigants and contact insecticides; however, newer data indicate that psocids are tolerant to insecticides used to control other stored-grain species. This study evaluated the insecticides registered in the USA for use on stored maize, rice and wheat for control of the psocid species Lepinotus reticulatus, Liposcelis entomophila, L. bostrychophila and L. paeta. Mortality of exposed adult females was recorded after 7 and 14 days of exposure, while progeny production was assessed after 30 days of exposure.

RESULTS: On wheat and rice, chlorpyriphos-methyl + deltamethrin was generally more effective against exposed parental adults than spinosad or pyrethrin, while pirimiphos-methyl was more effective on maize than spinosad or pyrethrin. In most cases, progeny production was suppressed in the treated grains. Progeny production was consistently lowest on wheat and rice treated with chlorpyriphos-methyl+ deltamethrin and maize treated with pirimiphos-methyl.

CONCLUSIONS: Chlorpyriphos-methyl+deltamethrin and pirimiphos-methyl were the most effective insecticides for all species and commodities. Conversely, efficacy of spinosad or pyrethrum was highly dependent on the psocid species and commodity.