Insecticidal action of the combined use of spinosad and deltamethrin against three storedproduct pests in two stored hard-wheat varieties.

The combined use of spinosad with deltamethrin against adults of Sitophilus oryzae, Sitophilus granarius and Tribolium confusum was evaluated in a series of laboratory bioassays in two hard wheat varieties (Athos and Sifnos). Two groups of bioassays were carried out. In the first group of bioassays, spinosad or deltamethrin were applied alone at the tested wheat varieties at the doses of 0.01, 0.1 and 0.5 ppm for spinosad and 0.125 ppm for deltamethrin. In the second group of bioassays, the tested wheat varieties were treated with the combination of the above spinosad rates with 0.125 of deltamethrin. In both series of bioassays, mortality of the tested species was evaluated after 7 d of exposure on the treated wheat varieties at 25oC and 65% r.h. Mortality for all species was always significantly higher in Athos than Sifnos. The highest mortality of S. oryzae (73 and 40% for Athos and Sifnos respectively) or S. granarius (88% and 58% for Athos and Sifnos respectively) was recorded in the cases that spinosad was applied alone at 0.5 ppm. On the contrary, in the case of T. confusum, 0.125 ppm of deltamethrin was significantly more effective than any of the application rates of spinosad either when applied alone or in combination with deltamethrin. Despite the fact that the highest mortality of S. granarius adults was recorded after exposure on the wheat varieties treated with 0.1 ppm of spinosad x 0.125 ppm of deltamethrin, in light of the results of the present study, the combination of spinosad with deltmethrin requires further investigation since in most of the tested cases of the present study, single application of spinosad or deltamethrin was more effective or of equal effectiveness than the respective combination of spinosad with deltamethrin. Keywords: Spinosad, Deltamethrin, Tribolium, Sitophilus, Wheat, Variet

Mortality and suppression of progeny production of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in seven different grains treated with an enhanced diatomaceous earth formulation

DEBBM, an enhanced diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation consisting of a mixture of DE and the plant extract bitterbarkomycin, was applied to seven different grains (wheat, barley, oats, rye, triticale, paddy rice and maize) at two dose rates 50 ppm and 150 ppm. Unsexed, 7d old adults of Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) were exposed to the DEBBM treated commodities and their mortality was assessed after 7d and 14d of exposure at 25 oC and 65% r.h. Furthermore, progeny production of the tested species per treated commodity was also assessed. Sitophilus oryzae appeared to be more susceptible than T. confusum to DEBBM. Performance of DEBBM was better in barley, wheat and oats compared to the remainder of the tested commodities. DEBBM performed better in rye and triticale than in paddy rice against both species although in many cases, significant differences among these grains were not recorded. Despite that DEBBM reached its highest efficacy levels on barley, wheat, and oats it did not suppress progeny production of the treated species in any of the grains. A significant reduction in progeny production of the treated species was recorded in the DEBBM treated grains in comparison with the untreated ones. This reduction in progeny production was expressed more vigorously to S. oryzae rather than T. confusum. In commodities with high DEBBM performance such as barley, oats or wheat, > 9-fold less progeny of S. oryzae were recorded at 150 ppm of DEBBM than in the untreated commodities. Although significantly less progeny of T. confusum were recorded in DEBBM treated grains than untreated grains, progeny suppression of this species was neither dose nor commodity dependant. Keywords: Diatomaceous earth, Bitterbarkomycin, Tribolium, Sitophilus, Mortality, Commodit

A Web-based Database System for Providing Technical Information on ATM Networking Platforms

This paper presents a Web-based database hosting technical information about pioneering ATM networking platforms, associated research activities engaging these platforms, and related important trials conducted in the framework of these research activities. The paper outlines the organisation and structure of the information content in the database and discusses methods of access through the WWW interface. Besides the “static” information offered by the database, other Java-based tools provide for the on-line monitoring of the status of the ATM platforms and for manipulating data arising from technological trials on these platforms. The integration of these tools with the database, under a common WWW interface is discussed

Influence of Temperature and Humidity on the Efficacy of Spinosad Against Four Stored-Grain Beetle Species

In the present work, we examined the insecticidal effect of spinosad, against adults of the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae), the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on wheat and the larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) on maize. The dose rates used were 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 ppm. The bioassays were carried out at three temperatures, 20, 25 and 30°C and two relative humidity levels, 55 and 75%. Mortality of R. dominica and S. oryzae was high even at 0.01 ppm of spinosad, reaching 100% at 55% relative humidity and 30° after 21 days of exposure. Generally, mortality of R. dominica, increased with temperature while for S. oryzae mortality increased with temperature and with the decrease of relative humidity. Moreover, for S. oryzae, mortality was low at 20°C. In the case of T. confusum, mortality was low at doses between 0.01 and 0.5 ppm even after 21 days of exposure. At 1 ppm, mortality exceeded 90% only at 30°C and only after 21 days of exposure. Mortality of P. truncatus was low on maize treated with 0.01 ppm, but increasing the dose to 0.1 ppm resulted in > 87% mortality after 14 days of exposure. In several combinations tested, spinosad efficacy notably varied according to the temperature and humidity regimes. Of the species tested, R. dominica and P. truncatus were very susceptible to spinosad, followed by S. oryzae, while T. confusum was the least susceptible

Study of the insecticidal action of diatomaceous earth against stored-products-insect-pest Tribolium confusum (coleoptera: tenebrionidae) with emphasis to (A) efficacy (B) residual activity and (C) potentiality of resistance development

The insecticidal efficacy of the diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation SilicoSec (Biofa GmbH) against larvae of the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum DuVal (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) was evaluated in laboratory tests. These tests were conducted at three temperatures, 20°C, 25°C and 30°C and two relative humidity levels, 50±5% and 60±5%. SilicoSec was applied to three types of product, hard wheat, maize and wheat flour, at four dose rates, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg of each product. In order to assess the influence of larval instar on the efficacy of SilicoSec, the larvae were divided into two groups, young and old larvae, corresponding to 1-3 and 4-7 instar larvae, respectively. In all of the cases tested, larvae mortality increased with the exposure interval (24h, 48, 7d) and the dose rate. The mortality of larvae exposed to all commodities tested with SilicoSec increased with increasing temperature. In contrast, the efficacy of SilicoSec notably decreased with the increase of relative humidity from 50±5% to 60±5%. Significantly, more larvae were dead in SilicoSec-treated wheat than in the remainder of the treated commodities. Also, mortality of larvae was lower in maize than wheat flour. The efficacy of SilicoSec was substantially affected by the instar of the exposed individuals. Young larvae were significantly more sensitive than old ones. The insecticidal efficacy of the diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation SilicoSec against adults (older than 7d) of the confused flour beetle, T. confusum was evaluated in laboratory tests. These tests were conducted at three temperatures, 20°C, 25 C and 30°C and two relative humidity levels, 50±5% and 60±5%. SilicoSec was applied to three types of product, hard wheat, maize and wheat flour, at four dose rates, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 g/kg of each product. In order to assess the influence of exposure interval on the efficacy of the DE formulation that was tested, mortality counts were taken place 24h, 48h, 7d and 14d post treatment. In all of the cases tested, adults’ mortality increased with the exposure interval and the dose rate. The mortality of adults exposed to ail commodities tested with SilicoSec increased with increasing temperature. In contrast, the efficacy of SilicoSec notably decreased with the increase of relative humidity from 50±5% to 60±5%. Significantly, more adults were dead in DE-treated wheat than in the remainder of the treated commodities. Also, mortality of adults was lower in wheat flour than maize. Laboratory tests were carried out to evaluate the effect of three diatomaceous earth (DE) and one natural pyrethrum formulations, against pupae of the confused flour beetle, T. confusum on wheat and flour. […]Η εντομοκτόνος δράση του σκευάσματος της γης διστόμων SilicoSec® (Biofa GmbH) έναντι προνυμφών του Tribolium confusum DuVal (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) μελετήθηκε στο εργαστήριο. Οι βιοδοκιμές έλαβαν χώρα σε τρεις θερμοκρασίες 20 °C, 25°C και 30°C και σε δύο επίπεδα σχετικής υγρασίας 50±5% και 60±5%. Το SilicoSec εφαρμόστηκε σε τρία είδη αποθηκευμένου προϊόντος (σκληρό σιτάρι, αραβόσιτος και αλεύρι σίτου) και σε τέσσερα επίπεδα δόσεων 250ppm, 500ppm, 1000ppm και 1500ppm. Για να μελετηθεί επίσης η επίδραση της σκόνης γης διατόμων στην ηλικία των προνυμφών, οι τελευταίες χωρίστηκαν σε δύο κατηγορίες ανάλογα με το στάδιο ανάπτυξης τους (L1-3 και L4-7). Σε όλες από τις περιπτώσεις που εξετάστηκαν, η θνησιμότητα των προνυμφών αυξήθηκε με τον χρόνο επαφής τους (24ώρες, 48ώρες, 7ημέρες, 14ημέρες) με τα προϊόντα που είχαν δεχθεί τις επεμβάσεις αλλά και με την αύξηση της δόσης του SilicoSec. Η θνησιμότητα των προνυμφών επίσης αυξήθηκε με την αύξηση της θερμοκρασίας. Αντιθέτως, η αύξηση της σχετικής υγρασίας από 50±5% σε 60±5% επέφερε σημαντική μείωση στην αποτελεσματικότητα της σκόνης γης διατόμων. Σημαντικώς περισσότερες προνύμφες θανατώθηκαν στο σκληρό σιτάρι που είχε δεχθεί επέμβαση με το SilicoSec σε σχέση με τα υπόλοιπα προϊόντα που είχαν δεχθεί αντίστοιχες επεμβάσεις με το ίδιο σκεύασμα. Επίσης, η θνησιμότητα των προνυμφών ήταν χαμηλότερη στον αραβόσιτο σε σχέση με το αλεύρι. Η αποτελεσματικότητα του SilicoSec ουσιωδώς επηρεάστηκε από την ηλικία των προνυμφών καθότι οι γηραιότερες προνύμφες ήσαν περισσότερο ανθεκτικές από τις νεώτερες. Η αποτελεσματικότητα του σκευάσματος σκόνης γης διατόμων SilicoSec εκτιμήθηκε έναντι ακμαίων (ηλικίας μεγαλύτερης των 7 ημερών) του Τ. confusum, στο εργαστήριο. Οι βιοδοκιμές έλαβαν χώρα σε τρεις θερμοκρασίες 20°C, 25°C και 30°C και δύο επίπεδα σχετικής υγρασίας, 50±5% και 60±5%. To SilicoSec εφαρμόστηκε σε τρία είδη αποθηκευμένου προϊόντος, σκληρό σιτάρι, αραβόσιτο και αλεύρι σίτου και σε τέσσερα επίπεδα δόσεων 250ppm, 500ppm, 1000ppm και 1500ppm, για κάθε προϊόν. Για να εκτιμηθεί ή επίδραση του χρόνου έκθεσης στην γη διστόμων επί της αποτελεσματικότητας της, οι μετρήσεις λάμβαναν χώρα στις 24ώρες, 48ώρες, 7 ημέρες και 14 ημέρες επαφής των ακμαίων με τα προϊόντα που είχαν δεχθεί τις επεμβάσεις με τη σκόνη γης διστόμων. Σε όλες τις περιπτώσεις, η θνησιμότητα των ακμαίων αυξήθηκε με την αύξηση του χρόνου έκθεσης, της θερμοκρασίας και της δόσης. Αντιθέτως η αποτελεσματικότητα της σκόνης γης διστόμων ελαττώθηκε με την αύξηση της σχετικής υγρασίας. Σημαντικώς περισσότερα ακμαία θανατώθηκαν στο σιτάρι σε σχέση με τα υπόλοιπα προϊόντα που είχαν δεχθεί τις επεμβάσεις με τη σκόνη γης διστόμων. Επίσης, η αποτελεσματικότητα της σκόνης γης διστόμων ήταν χαμηλότερη στο αλεύρι σε σχέση με τον αραβόσιτο. Βιοδοκιμές στο εργαστήριο διεξήχθησαν με σκοπό να εκτιμηθεί η επίδραση τριών σκευασμάτων γης διστόμων και ενός σκευάσματος που περιέχει φυσική πυρεθρίνη και piperonyl butoxide (ΡΒΟ) έναντι νυμφών του T. confusum σε σιτάρι και αλεύρι. […