Candidate Aerosol and Dust Formulations for Disinfesting Transport Vehicles, 1980-1984

Abstract

Abstract Laboratory-reared stored-product insects were exposed to insecticidal formulations in transport trailers (32-71 m3) at Baltimore, MD and Miami, FL. The insects used and their ages were: Tribolium confusum Jacquelin deVal, adults 7-14 days old; Attagenus unicolor (Brahm) =A. megatoma (F.)) larvae 3 mo old; Trogoderma glabrum (Herbst), larvae 6 wk old. For each test, 40 adults or larvae of each species were held in 10-cm diam open petri dishes placed on the floor at the midsection of each trailer ca. 30 cm from the side wall. Each trailer was used once. The aerosols were propelled by Freon 11/12 and released within closed trailers by “an individual walking the length of the trailer and releasing the aerosol from the pressurized can for a specified amount of time. Dusts were formulated with HiSil 233 as a carrier and introduced by CO2 propellant through an open rear door. The insects were exposed for 5 h; 10 min in the trailer with the doors closed, 20 min with one door open for aeration, and 4.5 h in the original containers following removal from the trailers. The insects were transferred to a clean petri dish after exposure. Knockdown (KD) was measured after 24 h. Mortality was measured after 14 days at 27°C, 60% RH and is the sum of moribund (responding feebly to prodding) plus dead (no response to stimulus) insects. Each test and control was replicated at least 3 times on successive days. The temperature ranged from 19 to 29°C.