Inhibition of hatching of Tribolium castaneum by phosphine

Abstract

Hatching was delayed and lower when 0–1-day-old eggs of a susceptible strain of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, were exposed to 30–50 ppm of phosphine for 72–120 h causing 70% or more kill, and in a field-collected phosphine-resistant strain exposed to 100–300 ppm for 72 h producing 30% or more mortality. Inhibition of hatching was established by noting a relative increase in hatching in later days in the fumigated batches which was significant for the eggs of the susceptible strain exposed to 30 ppm of phosphine for 120 h and the eggs of the resistant strain exposed to 300 ppm for 72 h. The practical implications of the inhibition of hatching of T. castaneum eggs by phosphine treatment are discussed.