Insects (2022) 13 (4 - 366)

Nickolas G. Kavallieratos, Erifili P. Nika, Anna Skourti, Constantin S. Filintas and Theofania D. Goumenou (2022)
Short- and long-term mortalities of small and large larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on concrete surfaces treated with three insecticides: Impact of food
Insects 13 (4 - 366)
Abstract: The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is an important stored-product pest for the poultry industry as it is a vector of dangerous pathogens for humans. In the present study, we evaluated the short- and long-term mortalities of small and large larvae of A. diaperinus when they were exposed to concrete-covered Petri dishes treated with etofenprox, deltamethrin, and the combination of piperonyl butoxide+acetamiprid+d-tetramethrin. Small and large larvae were exposed to each insecticide applied on concrete surfaces with or without food. The short-term mortality was recorded after 1 day, 3 days, 5 days, and 7 days, while the long-term mortality was recorded 7 days after the transport of the larvae alive to pesticide-free concrete-covered dishes. Regarding short-term mortality levels, 97.8% and 80.0% of the small and large larvae, that were exposed to etofenprox without food, died after 7 days of exposure, respectively. Concerning deltamethrin, all tested small larvae were killed after 3 days (without food) and 5 days (with food) of exposure. For large larvae, deltamethrin caused 98.9% (with food) and 100.0% (without food) mortality levels after 5 days of exposure. The combination of piperonyl butoxide+acetamiprid+d-tetramethrin caused high mortality levels to small larvae, i.e., 84.4% and 100.0% on dishes with and without food, respectively, but low to moderate mortality levels to large larvae that did not exceed 67.8% after 7 days of exposure. Long-term mortality varied vastly among the tested insecticides. Etofenprox killed 100.0% of the small larvae on concrete without food, but 24.0% of the large larvae exposed to concrete containing food. Deltamethrin did not provide long-term mortality to large larvae when food was present. Piperonyl butoxide+acetamiprid+d-tetramethrin caused mortality rates that overall varied from 33.5% (large larvae on concrete with food) to 85.0% (small larvae on concrete with food). In conclusion, deltamethrin killed almost all exposed larvae at exposures of < 5 days, regardless of their size and the presence of food on the concrete.
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Database assignments for author(s): Nickolas G. Kavallieratos

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
control - general

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Alphitobius diaperinus		Greece