The activity of (S)-hydroprene space spray against three stored products pests in a simulated food production environment

Abstract

The synthetic juvenile hormone analogue (JHA) hydroprene was applied as a space spray against three species of stored products insect. Food media in glass crystallising dishes was placed in open and in enclosed situations under simulated food production conditions. The area was treated with hydroprene on three occasions: three months before the introduction of insect eggs into the food media, two days before infestation of the media, and three months after infestation. Space spray applications of the commercial formulation of hydroprene (Protrol®) were conducted using a cold fogger at a rate of 18 mg/m 2 floor area. Hydroprene, which appeared to accumulate in the food media, disrupted the normal development of the three species tested leading to lengthened larval development time and increased sterility in adults. With food media in the open, non-deformed adult emergence was reduced by 100% for Tribolium castaneum and Ephestia cautella and by 94% for Tribolium confusum. With the food media enclosed, to simulate the situations found in food processing machinery, the effect of hydroprene was somewhat reduced but was still considered promising.