Journal of Pest Science (2017) 90, 239-247

A.H. Sousa, L.R.A. Faroni and R.N.C. Guedes (2017)
Locomotor behavior of Sitophilus zeamais populations under sublethal ozone exposure
Journal of Pest Science 90 (1), 239-247
Abstract: Insects exhibit diverse behavioral responses under insecticide exposure. However, such responses have been neglected in toxicological studies. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the influence of sublethal concentrations of ozone on the locomotor behavior of populations of the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Additionally, respiration rate and body mass were also evaluated. The behavioral characteristics evaluated were distance traveled, resting time, and walking velocity of males and females, along with flight initiation for non-sexed insects. Ozone concentrations of 0, 30, 40, 50, and 60 ppm were established for the Amambay population and ozone concentrations of 0, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 ppm for the São João population of S. zeamais. The walking activity of the Amambay insect population decreased with increasing ozone concentration. In contrast, the walking activity of the São João population did not vary with ozone concentration. At least one of the walking characteristics is correlated with the respiration rate and body mass, indicating an association of increased respiration rate and body mass with reduced walking activity. In general, the behavioral response to ozone was population dependent. The reduction in walking activity of the S. zeamais populations under sublethal ozone exposure might limit the insect's ability to escape its effects. These results implicate in a low risk of resistance evolution in a short term, indicating that ozone is a potential option to control pest insects of stored products.
(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): Raul Narciso C. Guedes

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.
	Sitophilus zeamais		Brazil (south)