Responses of phosphine‐resistant strains of two stored‐product insect pests to changing concentrations of phosphine

Abstract

AbstractAbstract: The susceptibility of eggs, pupae and adults of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), (both phosphine‐resistant strains) to phosphine at fixed concentration‐time (ct) products, with either constant or increasing or decreasing concentrations was studied at 25 (± 1)°C. At lower ct products, falling concentrations of phosphine generally caused reduced insect mortality in all the three exposure periods in the range 12 to 72 h. However, in R. dominica, both increasing and decreasing concentrations were less effective than constant concentrations. At higher ct products, no significant change in the mortality response was observed in either species after exposure to constant or changing concentrations. The findings indicate the need to maintain sufficiently high concentrations of phosphine until the end of the fumigation period.