Effectiveness of spinosad as a grain protectant against resistant beetle and psocid pests of stored grain in Australia

Abstract

Effectiveness of the bacterium-derived insecticide, spinosad, was determined against eight storage pests of Australia. Laboratory experiments were carried out on relevant resistant strains of four beetle and four psocid species, with the aim of determining the potential of spinosad as a new grain protectant. To explore the possibility that spinosad could have delayed effects, we exposed all insects for 14 d initially and then a further 14 and 28 d for psocids and beetles, respectively. Adult insects of each strain were exposed to untreated wheat (control) and wheat treated with spinosad at 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg [a.i.]/kg of grain, and adult mortality and reduction of progeny were determined. Among beetles, spinosad was most effective against Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), with 100% adult mortality and progeny reduction after 14 d exposure at 1 mg [a.i.]/kg. Efficacy of spinosad was less with Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and least with Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.). Against the psocids, spinosad was most effective against Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein), with 100% adult mortality after 28 d exposure at 1 mg [a.i.]/kg and 92% progeny reduction after 14 d exposure and 100% subsequently. Spinosad was only moderately effective against Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, L. decolor (Pearman) and L. paeta Pearman. Our findings suggest spinosad to be a potential protectant against R. dominica and L. entomophila in stored grain in Australia. This potential use would be in combination with another protectant capable of controlling other members of the pest complex.