An influence of herbs on the sex structure in populations of insect pests of stored products

The effects of powdered herbs (lavender Lavandula officinalis L., peppermint Mentha piperita L. and basil Ocimium basilicum L.) added to the food substances of three insect species: the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.), lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) on the life span and development of the three insect species as well as habitat conditions, sex structure, and the survivability of males and females were considered. The experiments were conducted in the laboratory at a temperature of 28°C and relative humidity (RH) 60 ±5%. In all the studied populations, high female mortality was found (♂/♀ < 1). The studied populations were: the rice weevil and the lesser grain borer cultured in wheat grain with herb additions, and the saw-toothed grain beetle cultured in semolina with herb additions. Among the herbs used, peppermint caused a significant effect in the form of increased mortality rates among females of S. oryzae and O. surinamensis. Lavender and basil had a similar impact among R. dominica females. The herbs applied in the experiments intensified the mortality of females and, consequently, led to the disappearance of entire populations

The mortality of Oryzaephilus surinamensis Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) induced by powdered plants

The aim of this study was to investigate whether powdered plants of different species namely: peppermint Mentha piperita (L.) (Lamiaceae), wormwood Artemisia absinthium (L.) (Asteraceae), common sage Salvia officinalis (L.) (Lamiaceae), allspice Pimenta dioica (Linnaeus et Merrill) (Myrtaceae) and common garlic Allium sativum (L.) (Amaryllidaceae), added to semolina using concentrations of 1.23, 3.61, and 5.88%, influence the mortality rate in the saw-toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Silvanidae). Experiments were conducted in a laboratory at 28°C and relative humidity 60±5%. At the concentration of 1.23%, allspice seeds caused the highest mortality amongst the saw-toothed grain beetle. When concentrations of 3.61 and 5.88% were used, sage, peppermint and wormwood caused the highest statistically significant mortality of O. surinamensi

Kompostowanie – „złota metoda” na rozwiązanie problemu organicznych odpadów domowych? – krótki przegląd

W Polsce ilość odpadów poddanych recyklingowi organicznemu – kompostowaniu począwszy od roku 2015 wzrasta. Obserwuje się także rosnącą ilość selektywnie zbieranych odpadów komunalnych, w tym biodegradowalnych. Recykling organiczny bioodpadów daje możliwość odzyskania materii w formie kompostu lub stabilizatu, przy jednoczesnym zmniejszeniu ilości odpadów kierowanych na składowiska. Kompost przeznaczony na nawóz musi spełnić określone wymagania jakościowe zgodnie z Ustawą o nawozach i nawożeniu. Otrzymany nawóz znajduje szerokie zastosowanie m.in., jako: środek wspomagający uprawę roślin, podłoże w rekultywacji terenów zdegradowanych, dodatek do pasz i ściółek