Human behaviour and application of residual insecticides to control storage and food industry pests

We measured the individual variation of the area-estimate of simple geometrical patterns (circle, rectangle) in ten people. We found that they tended to underestimate (max. 5 x) the correct area of the tested geometrical patterns. Consequently, we explored how the insecticides Ficam 80WP, K-Othrine 25, and Actellic EC50 are robust or sensitive to the measured extent of over-dosage (2x) or underdosage (5x). We also tested the effects of incorrect dosages of insecticides applied to porous filter paper nonporous glass and bioassayed with adult Sitophilus oryzae and Tribolium castaneum. We found that the tested insecticides were surprisingly robust to under-dosage on the glass surface but sensitive to under-dosage on the porous paper surface. Keywords: Pesticides, Insecticides, Residual treatment, Dosage, Human behaviou

Fluorescent non-toxic bait as a new method for black rat (Rattus rattus) monitoring

The detection of synathropic rodents may be difficult since they are animals with nocturnal activity. Methods of their detection and monitoring rely mostly on indirect signs of their activity such as the presence of faeces, urine, consumed foods and damaged materials. Our experimental hypothesis was that the production of fluorescent faeces - following consumption of fluorescent bait - may be used for rodent monitoring. For this purpose we studied the production of fluorescent faeces, temporal dynamics and detectability in wild black rat (Rattus rattus). Wild black rats were individually housed in experimental cages with the wire-mesh grid floor and faeces were collected in short-time intervals. The peak of fluorescent activity in faeces was detected 10-20 hours after bait ingestion. We found that there is only relatively short delay between bait consumption and defecation and fluorescent faeces are easily detectable at distance using an ultraviolet hand lamp. Thus, this method can contribute to effective monitoring of rodent pests.Keywords: Rattus rattus, Fluorescent bait, Monitoring, Rodent contro