Effect Of Certain Methyl Bromide Alternatives On The Time To Population Extinction For Stored Roduct Pests In Closed Storage Facilities

Abstract

SUMMARY This study was conducted at the laboratory of stored products pests of the Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture at Moshtohor, Tukh, Qualubia, Zagazig University and supported by the National project of integrated pest management for post-harvest pests financed by EEC-counterpart funds. Ministry of Agriculture and land Reclamation, Egypt. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of certain methyl bromide alternatives i. c. controlled atmospheres (CA) of various carbon dioxide concentrations: CA of very high nitrogen content, phosphine gas produced on metal phosphide (aluminium or magnesium) and combinations of phosphine and carbon dioxide against some stored product-insects inside three closed storage facilities i. c. steel bins, fiberglass bins and metal drums. Insects tested were the adults and immature stages of the rice weevil Sitophilus oryzae (L.): lesser grain borer Rhiopertha dominica (F.) and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) as well as active and diapausing larvae of Khapra hcctle Trogoderma granarium Everts. The chosen treatments as methyl bromide alternatives were tested inside gastight steel bins each of0.5 mvolume and was filled with ca. 450 kg wheat grains, closed fiberglass bins each «' around 0.6 m' volume and was filled with about 450 kg wheat grains and closed metal drums (Barrels) each of ca. 0.2 m volume. Trials were conducted also in closed metal drums (Barrels), each drum was filled with about 50 kg wheat grain.