Insecticide treated packaging for the control of stored product insects

Abstract

Improper or poor post-harvest handling and storage of stored grains contributes significantly to product loss, and bagged stored grain presents an option for safe storage and handling. Bagged grain is intended to maintain quality and safety, while protecting it from infestations. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of deltamethrin-treated packaging material on adults and larvae of common stored product pests. Adults or larvae of several species of stored product insects were exposed to deltamethrin-treated packaging for time intervals ranging from 1 h to 4 weeks. The percentage of affected Prostephanus truncatus, Callosobruchus maculatus and Rhyzopertha dominica adults was 96% larval death within 1-2 weeks.The major primary stored product insects were highly susceptible to the deltamethrin-treated storage bags, but there was variation in susceptibility between species and life stages tested. The deltamethrin-treated storage bags can offer protection of bagged grains and be used as a preventative measure to reduce infestations during storage.

Keywords

• treated packaging
• deltamethrin
• stored product insects
• affected adults