FIELD AND LABORATORY ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFICACY OF SOME INERT DUSTS AGAINST SOME STORED GRAIN INSECTS

Abstract

Field and laboratory assessment of the efficacy and persistence of some inert dusts i.e. Silica aerogel (SG), Diatomaceous earth (DE) and Katel sous (KS) at 1 % (w./w.) was carried out for protecting wheat grains against some stored grain insects i.e. Sitophilus oryzae, Rhizopertha dominica, Tribolium castaneum and Trogoderma granarium. Treated wheat grains inside polyethylene and jute bags stored in open shounas up to three months in Ismailia and Gharbia governorates. The obtained results indicate that, adult mortality values decreased with increasing the period of storage. Tested inert dusts were more persistence on polyethylene bags than on jute bags. Protection of stored wheat grain was more successful in Ismailia governorate with than Gharbia at all storage periods. Katel-Sous and silica aerogel were more effective than Diatomaceous Earth in protecting stored wheat grain from insect infestation which gave complete and high mortality in polyethylene and jute bags at tow tested governorates. Adults of Trogoderma granarium were more tolerable than those of other studied insects to the action of tested inert dusts at tested bags and governorates. Tested dusts in both governorates and both bags did not impair germination of wheat grains.