Neotropical Entomology (2008) 37, 716-722

Luis F.A. Alves, Daian G.P. Oliveira and Pedro M.O.J. Neves (2008)
Fatores que afetam a eficiência da Terra de Diatomácea no controle de adultos de Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
[Factors affecting diatomaceous earth effectiveness in the control of Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) adults]
Neotropical Entomology 37 (6), 716-722
Abstract: Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a potential alternative to control the lesser mealworm of poultry farms Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer). Our study aimed to understand the role of some of the environmental and insect behavioral factors play on DE effectiveness, such as the substrate (chicken food and poultry house litter), temperature and DE repellent activity on lesser mealworm adults. Mortality was higher at the highest temperature (32ºC), and it increased with DE concentration (53 and 84% respectively, for concentrations of 86 and 172 g/m²) (P < 0.05). The substrate also influenced DE effectiveness: 95% mortality was observed in the feed, against 4% in the poultry litter. Part of these results can be attributed to the removal of DE particles by the poultry bedding, as supported by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations and rhodamine concentration on the surface of the insects. As to insect behavior, DE had a repellent effect, since trap capture decreased nearly 50% in traps containing DE as opposed to those containing only food. Therefore, environmental factors do affect the DE effectiveness, and they must be taken into consideration when looking into developing control strategies in the field.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
(original language: Portuguese)
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Database assignments for author(s): Pedro M.O.J. Neves

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