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J. R. Plimmer
gelechiid species in flour mills and granaries. The species involved were Ephestia
elutella (Hiibner), Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), E. cautella (Walker), P. interpunctella, and Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier).
Pheromones have also been used as lures to attract insects to pathogeninoculating devices. Male T. glabrum beetles in simulated warehouse conditions
were attracted by the pheromone to a corrugated cardboard inoculation device
that dusted them with spores of a protozoan, Mattesia trogodermae Canning,
diluted with cellulose powder. The disease was subsequently spread by contamination of females who transferred it to eggs and larvae. The result was substantial
reduction ofT. glabrum populations (Shapas et al., 1977; Schwalbe etal., 1974).
9.4.2.2. Mating Disruption
If pheromones are to be used for population suppression, it is essential to
understand the subtleties and underlying complexity of the air permeation technique, because its effects will not resemble those of conventional pesticide
application and its effectiveness must be monitored by very different criteria.
Promising results have been obtained in attempts to reduce populations of storedproduct insects by disruption of mating. However, the method may have disadvantages in certain circumstances. Although a single treatment of pheromone
reduced the mating activity of A. megatoma in a sealed 20S-liter fiber drum
(Brukholder, 1973), Burkholder pointed out that such containers might be attractive to insects when they were shipped and opened, and that the warehouses
themselves might draw insects from untreated areas. The experiments of Brady
et al. (1975) were less encouraging. P. interpunctella and E. cautella were
exposed to high pheromone levels for up to 99 days in commercial storage
facilities, but the mating activity of the females was not reduced, compared with
that of the control.
Greater success in disrupting mating of E. cautella was reported by Wheatley
(1974). Experiments by Sower and Whitmer (1977) showed that the release of
the synthetic pheromone reduced mating frequency of P. interpunctella and E.
cautella. The degree of mating reduction was dependent upon pheromone dose
and population density. Reproduction and population were greatly reduced in
the presence of ZETA.
9.5. CONCLUSION
In this summary, I have outlined problems associated with the use of conventional fumigants and have indicated a number of alternative approaches to
the chemical control of stored-product pests. The newer methods are based on
chemicals that are readily degraded and present little threat to the environment.
J. R. Plimmer
gelechiid species in flour mills and granaries. The species involved were Ephestia
elutella (Hiibner), Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), E. cautella (Walker), P. interpunctella, and Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier).
Pheromones have also been used as lures to attract insects to pathogeninoculating devices. Male T. glabrum beetles in simulated warehouse conditions
were attracted by the pheromone to a corrugated cardboard inoculation device
that dusted them with spores of a protozoan, Mattesia trogodermae Canning,
diluted with cellulose powder. The disease was subsequently spread by contamination of females who transferred it to eggs and larvae. The result was substantial
reduction ofT. glabrum populations (Shapas et al., 1977; Schwalbe etal., 1974).
9.4.2.2. Mating Disruption
If pheromones are to be used for population suppression, it is essential to
understand the subtleties and underlying complexity of the air permeation technique, because its effects will not resemble those of conventional pesticide
application and its effectiveness must be monitored by very different criteria.
Promising results have been obtained in attempts to reduce populations of storedproduct insects by disruption of mating. However, the method may have disadvantages in certain circumstances. Although a single treatment of pheromone
reduced the mating activity of A. megatoma in a sealed 20S-liter fiber drum
(Brukholder, 1973), Burkholder pointed out that such containers might be attractive to insects when they were shipped and opened, and that the warehouses
themselves might draw insects from untreated areas. The experiments of Brady
et al. (1975) were less encouraging. P. interpunctella and E. cautella were
exposed to high pheromone levels for up to 99 days in commercial storage
facilities, but the mating activity of the females was not reduced, compared with
that of the control.
Greater success in disrupting mating of E. cautella was reported by Wheatley
(1974). Experiments by Sower and Whitmer (1977) showed that the release of
the synthetic pheromone reduced mating frequency of P. interpunctella and E.
cautella. The degree of mating reduction was dependent upon pheromone dose
and population density. Reproduction and population were greatly reduced in
the presence of ZETA.
9.5. CONCLUSION
In this summary, I have outlined problems associated with the use of conventional fumigants and have indicated a number of alternative approaches to
the chemical control of stored-product pests. The newer methods are based on
chemicals that are readily degraded and present little threat to the environment.