ARS | Publication request: Low-level pest control: using ULV insecticides in commercial facilities.

Submitted to: American Institute of Baking
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: August 25, 2007
Publication Date: September 1, 2007
Citation: Arthur, F.H. 2007. Low-level pest control: Using ULV insecticides in commercial facilities. American Institute of Baking, September/October.

Technical Abstract: Aerosol insecticides, including ultra-low-volume (ULV) applications, can be applied inside commercial milling and food storage facilities to control stored-product insects. However, there are few field trials in which tests have been done a manner that mimics insect exposure in these commercial sites. Results from field trials show that the presence of food material reduced the efficacy of a pyrethrin formulation to adult flour beetles, and the red flour beetle was more susceptible than the confused flour beetle to the pyrethrin ULV than the confused flour beetle. Immature stages of both insect species seemed to be more susceptible than the adults. In other tests, ULV applications of the insect growth regulator methoprene, effectively prevented larvae of the red flour beetle from reaching the adult stage. A pyrethrin-methoprene mixture also prevented pupae of the red flour beetle from reaching the adult stage, unless the exposed pupae were protected in some way from the insecticide.