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Penetration of Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) through diatomaceous earth-treated bulk maize grain
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 28 February 2007
Abstract
The penetration of adult Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky through maize grain bulks (0.75 m deep), treated with Protect-It®, a diatomaceous earth (DE) at 0, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2% (w/w), was determined 12 weeks after weevils were released at the upper surface of the grain. Maize was stored in columns in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, under controlled conditions of 26±2°C and 70±10% RH. Grain samples were collected from various pre-determined depths and the numbers of S. zeamais adults counted. Differences in insect numbers between treatments and at different depths from which samples were collected were highly significant (P<0.001). The bottom 2–3 layers (0.65–0.75 m deep) had significantly more insects than the upper layers for all the DE concentrations. No significant differences in total insect numbers (live+dead) were found between the DE concentrations. Dead S. zeamais weevils were found at the bottom of grain treated with Protect-It®, indicating that insects can penetrate through DE-treated grain 0.75 m deep but then subsequently die. There was no strong evidence that DEs admixed with bulk grain restrict S. zeamais movement within the grain.
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