Sulfuryl fluoride fumigation to eliminate all life stages of Araecerus fasciculatus (Coleoptera: Anthribidae)

Abstract

Araecerus fasciculatus (De Geer) is one of the insect pests that often infests agricultural commodities in storage. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of sulfuryl fluoride against all life stages of A. fasciculatus. In the preliminary test, sulfuryl fluoride was applied at doses of 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 g/m3 and 24 and 48 h exposure times. Two hundred insects were used for each treatment. After being treated with sulfuryl fluoride, the characteristics of A. fasciculatus eggs were observed histopathologically. Further testing was carried out on the most tolerant stadium using 10,000 insects. The results of the preliminary test showed that at 24 h of exposure, the mortality of the adult, larva, and pupa stages reached 100% at the application doses of 12, 36, and 60 g/m3, respectively, while the mortality of the egg stage did not reach 100% at a 24-h exposure time at a dose of 12–72 g/m3. The egg stage mortality reached 100% when the application dose was 60 g/m3 and the exposure time was 48 h. Further test against the most tolerant stage (eggs) showed that none of the treated A. fasciculatus eggs reached the adult stage after being exposed to sulfuryl fluoride at a dose of 60 g/m3 and an exposure time of 48 h.