Biological activity of Novaluron, a new chitin-synthesis inhibitor, on the major stored product insect pests.

Abstract

AbstractNovaluron is a novel chitin-synthesis inhibitor from the benzoyl phenyl ureas group of insect growth regulators. It has a broad-spectrum activity on various insects, but very low toxicity to mammals (LD50>5000 mg/kg). The objective of the study reported was to evaluate the efficacy of Novaluron against the main stored product insect pests, as a possible alternative to standard pesticides for stored-product pest control. The test insects were the beetles Sitophilus oryzae, Rhyzopertha dominica, and Tribolium castaneum, and the moth Plodia interpunctella. According to the differences in the life cycle and conditions for development of the test insects, adults of S. oryzae and R. dominica, and larvae of T. castaneum and P. interpunctella, were used. Concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 ppm of Novaluron were mixed with three kinds of food media: whole wheat grain for the internal pests S. oryzae and R. dominica, ground grain for the external feeder P. interpunctella and flour for T. castaneum. The results showed that Novaluron at 1 ppm reduced the number of new generation adults of S. oryzae and R. dominica by 95% compared with the control, and prevented the emergence of adults of P. interpunctella. At this concentration, Novaluron also yielded total mortality of T. castaneum third instar larvae. At 0.1 ppm, Novaluron had no effect on the insects tested.