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Title: Effectiveness of sulfuryl fluoride for control of different life stages of stored-product psocids (Psocoptera)

Author
item ATHANASSIOU, CHRISTOS - University Of Thessaly
item PHILLIPS, THOMAS - Kansas State University
item AIKINS, M JAMIE - Kansas State University
item HASAN, M MAHBUB - Kansas State University
item Throne, James

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/29/2011
Publication Date: 2/1/2012
Citation: Athanassiou, C.G., Phillips, T.W., Aikins, M., Hasan, M., Throne, J.E. 2012. Effectiveness of sulfuryl fluoride for control of different life stages of stored-product psocids (Psocoptera). Journal of Economic Entomology. 105(1): 282-287. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/EC11209.

Interpretive Summary: With the impending phase-out of methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride is among the most promising alternative fumigant insecticides. It has been evaluated for control of several insect species, but there are few data available on its efficacy for control of stored-product psocids (Psocoptera). Psocids (insects which are also called booklice) are pests of stored grains and grain products in most of the world, and they have natural tolerance to some of the insecticides used for control of stored-product insects. We evaluated sulfuryl fluoride for control of different life stages of the psocids Liposcelis paeta, L. entomophila, L. bostrychophila, L. decolor, and Lepinotus reticulatus (psocids generally are known only by their scientific names). Adults and nymphs were very susceptible to sulfuryl fluoride. Complete adult and nymphal mortality was recorded at concentrations between 4 and 8 g/m3, except for L. decolor where all adults were killed at 24 g/m3. Eggs were tolerant to sulfuryl fluoride. Complete egg mortality was achieved at 24 and 72 g/m3 for L. reticulatus and L. decolor, respectively. Survival of L. paeta eggs was recorded even after exposure to 96 g/m3. Given that the highest label concentration for sulfuryl fluoride for a 48-h exposure interval is 31.25 g/m3, our study indicates that high doses and/or longer exposures are needed for complete mortality of eggs of L. decolor and L. paeta.

Technical Abstract: With the impending phase-out of methyl bromide, sulfuryl fluoride is among the most promising alternative fumigant insecticides. It has been evaluated for control of several insect species, but there are few data available on its efficacy for control of stored-product psocids (Psocoptera). We evaluated sulfuryl fluoride for control of different life stages of the psocids Liposcelis paeta, L. entomophila, L. bostrychophila, L. decolor, and Lepinotus reticulatus. Adults and nymphs were very susceptible to sulfuryl fluoride. Complete (100%) adult and nymphal mortality was recorded at concentrations between 4 and 8 g/m3, except for L. decolor where all adults were only killed at 24 g/m3. Eggs were tolerant to sulfuryl fluoride. Complete egg mortality was achieved at 24 and 72 g/m3 for L. reticulatus and L. decolor, respectively. Survival of L. paeta eggs was recorded even after exposure to 96 g/m3. Given that the highest label concentration for sulfuryl fluoride for a 48-h exposure interval is 31.25 g/m3, our study indicates that high doses and/or longer exposures are needed for complete mortality of eggs of L. decolor and L. paeta. Moreover, the present work suggests that there is considerable variation in efficacy of sulfuryl fluoride for control of different psocid species.