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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

B.M. Mvumi ,
T.E. Stathers ,
P. Golob  and
D.P. Giga
B.M. Mvumi*
Affiliation:
Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Engineering, University of Zimbabwe, PO Box MP 167, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
T.E. Stathers
Affiliation:
Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
P. Golob
Affiliation:
Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Central Avenue, Chatham Maritime, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
D.P. Giga
Affiliation:
PO Box 629, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
*
*E-mail: mvumibm@agric.uz.ac.zw
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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.

Keywords

Sitophilus zeamaisdiatomaceous earthgrain protectantvertical insect movementbulk maize
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 26 , Issue 1 , March 2006 , pp. 28 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 2006

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