Journal of Economic Entomology (2016) 109, 2329-2333

Tim G. Grout and Kim C. Stoltz (2016)
Eliminating Macchiademus diplopterus (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) and Siculobata sicula (Acari: Oribatulidae) from export fruit using ethyl formate
Journal of Economic Entomology 109 (6), 2329-2333
Abstract: South African fruit is sometimes rejected for export for the presence of live arthropods that are not considered pests of the fruit concerned. Macchiademus diplopterus (Distant) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) is a cereal pest but may aestivate on fruit of some tree crops in the Western Cape province of South Africa and occasionally results in rejections of export fruit. Ethyl formate in the form of the commercial product Vapormate (a patented combination of ethyl formate and carbon dioxide) was evaluated as a fumigant against M. diplopterus at a dosage of Vapormate 250 g/m³ or ethyl formate 1.29% and carbon dioxide 10.76% (both by volume) and when applied for 4 h gave complete control. Confirmatory trials with >35,000 M. diplopterus using the same treatment, resulted in no survivors. The arboreal mite Siculobata sicula (Berlese) (Sarcoptiformes: Oribatulidae) at times reaches high numbers on citrus in orchards if few pesticides are used and may result in export rejections. A small-scale trial using the same ethyl formate treatment also killed these mites. This treatment–time combination did not appear to have phytotoxic effects on pears or oranges, unless they had prior mechanical injuries that were accentuated. Ethyl formate therefore holds promise for disinfesting fruit before it is packed.
(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): Tim G. Grout

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

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Macchiademus diplopterus		South Africa