Residual efficacy of Deltamethrin against Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) in wheat grain

SUMMARY Residual efficacy of the insecticide deltamethrin, an EC formulation containing 25 g/L AI + 225 g/L PBO (piperonyl butoxide synergist), against lab populations of Sitophilus oryzae , Rhyzopertha dominica , Tribolium castaneum and Sitotroga cerealella was investigated in the laboratory by applying product water solutions (0.25 mg AI/kg) to wheat grain (at 25±1°C and 60±5% r.h.). Adult mortality on 0, 7, 14 and 30 days old deposits was estimated after 2, 7 and 14 days of exposure to treated wheat grain and additional 7 days of recovery. Progeny reduction (PR, %) was also assessed. After 2 days of exposure to deposits of all ages, deltamethrin caused only 0-10% mortality of coleopterans (up to 37% after the recovery period) and 23-30% of S. cerealella , while mortality before and after recovery from 14 days of exposure was 95-50% for S. oryzae , 97-100% for R. dominica , 99-100% for T. castaneum and 100% for S. cerealella . Progeny production of S. oryzae was highest after parents contacted with 14 days old deposit of deltamethrin (PR, 76%), and lowest after contact with fresh deposit (PR, 95%), while R. dominica and T. castaneum had no progeny on any deltamethrin deposit age in wheat (PR, 100%), and S. cerealella had only a very low progeny (PR, 99%). The results showed that the synergised deltamethrin, applied at 0.25 mg/kg in wheat grain, is a highly effective insecticide for stored-product insect control, while a higher dose is required for successful residual control of S. oryzae .