Journal of Economic Entomology (2018) 111, 1625-1632

Jae Seon Lee, Hyun Kyung Kim, Yejin Kyung, Geun-Ho Park, Byung-Ho Lee, Jeong-Oh Yang, Hyun-Na Koo and Gil-Hah Kim (2018)
Fumigation activity of ethyl formate and phosphine against Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on imported sweet pumpkin
Journal of Economic Entomology 111 (4), 1625-1632
Abstract: This study investigated an alternative fumigant for imported sweet pumpkin. Laboratory fumigations with ethyl formate (EF) and phosphine (PH₃) alone and in combination were conducted at different temperatures in 12-liter desiccators to determine their efficacy and synergism against adults and eggs of two-spotted spider mites (Tetranychus urticae Koch), a major pest of sweet pumpkins; larger scale fumigations with EF were also performed to evaluate the impact of EF fumigation on the postharvest quality of sweet pumpkin and EF absorption. EF fumigation of 4 h achieved 100% control of both adults and eggs at 10°C. Efficacy of EF also increased with temperature. Conversely, PH₃ fumigation for 4 and 6 h was not effective against either adults or eggs, and no synergism between EF and PH₃ was observed. In larger scale fumigation tests, EF at 60 g/m³ for 4 h resulted in 100% control of both adults and eggs at 10°C, without causing injury to the sweet pumpkins. These results suggest that EF has the potential to be a safe and effective alternative to methyl bromide fumigation for controlling two-spotted spider mites on sweet pumpkin.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Byung-Ho Lee

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general
quarantine treatments/regulations/aspects

---

Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tetranychus urticae	Squash/pumpkin (Cucurbita)