Abstract
Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is a serious pest of stored agricultural products and one of the most common insects found in grain storage and food processing facilities. Heat treatment has been revisited to control stored-product insects as a potential alternative to methyl bromide for disinfesting mills and food-processing facilities. The influence of acclimation of T. castaneum adults, pupae, larvae, and eggs to sublethal temperatures of 36, and 42°C on their subsequent susceptibility to lethal temperature of 50°C was respectively investigated. The acclimation of T. castaneum eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults to 36, and 42°C significantly decreased their subsequent susceptibility to lethal high temperature of 50°C. The influence of acclimation to 42°C was significantly greater than that of acclimation to 36°C. The most influential acclimation times at 42°C for mortality of T. castaneum eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults were 15, 5, 5, and 5 h, respectively, and their corresponding mortality were 41.24, 5.59, 20.19, and 4.48%, compared to 100% mortality of T. castaneum eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults without acclimation when exposed to 50°C for 35 min, respectively. The present results have important implications for developing successful heat treatment protocols to control T. castaneum, improving disinfestation effectiveness of heat treatment and understanding insect response to high temperatures.
Highlights
The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) ranks as one of the most destructive insects associated with food-processing facilities in the world
The acclimation time, exposure time, and the interaction between the acclimation time and exposure time significantly affected the mortality of T. castaneum eggs at p < 0.05 level
The present study results indicated that prior short-term acclimation to sublethal high temperatures of 36, and 42 ̊C could significantly enhance the survival of T. castaneum eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults subsequently exposed to lethal high temperature of 50 ̊C, and reduce their mortality
Summary
The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) ranks as one of the most destructive insects associated with food-processing facilities in the world. Fumigating food processing facilities with phosphine or methyl bromide has been a very effective method for controlling T. castaneum population for decades [1,2]. Methyl bromide has been thoroughly phased out due to its ozone depleting potential according to the Montreal Protocol worldwide [3]. Influence of acclimation to sublethal temperature on subsequent susceptibility of T. castaneum to high temperature
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
