Efficacy of diatomaceous earth and temperature to control the bean weevil, Acanthoscelides obtectus Say, 1831 (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) in stored bean

Karakaş M.

International Journal of Zoology Studies, cilt.9, sa.1, ss.38-42, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)

Özet

This study was carried out to investigate the suitability of the diatomaceous earth (DE) material in biological control of the bean weevil, Acanthoscelides obtectus depending on the temperature. Treatment with DE is an efficient insect control technique in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs of stored grain pests. Its main advantages are low toxicity to environment, non-target organisms and long lasting efficacy. The objective of this application was to evaluate the efficacy doses and temperatures to control the bean weevil, A. obtectus in stored bean. In plastic cups with 150 g of clean and dry bean grains, 50 non-sexed 7-14 day-old adults of A. obtectus were submitted to the following applications in three replicates; DE (DE-CRAWL) at 350, 700 and 1000 mg kg-1 , at 20, 25 and 30 ºC. The mortality was evaluated from the 2nd to 30th day. After this period, the adults were removed and the progeny was kept until the 60th day when the insects were counted and the grain moisture content evaluated. The effect of temperature on A. obtectus mortality was significant for the three DE doses. The 700 and 1000 mg kg-1 doses caused the highest mortality at 25 ºC and 30 ºC but with no significant difference between them. The progeny development was significantly higher in the control group compared to the treatments with DE. There was no significant difference in the number of progeny among the three DE doses at any of the temperatures studied. The results support the use of DE as an effective grain protectant against the bean weevil, A. obtectus in stored bean.