Simcha Finkelman

Use of Heat for Disinfestation and Control of Insects in Dates: Laboratory and Field Trials

Heat treatment of dates at the time of harvest, was examined as an alternative to fumigation with methyl bromide, which has been phased out in Israel under the Montreal Protocol. In laboratory studies, the influence of 40°, 45°, 50° and 55°C on the levels of disinfestation and mortality ofCarpophilus hemipterus larvae was examined over a 2-h exposure period. The ratio of the number of insects found outside the feeding sites to the total number of insects, was greatest at 50°C (92.3%), significantly greater than at 40° and 55°C. At 50° and 55°C, 100% mortality was obtained. Since drying temperatures for most date varieties is between 45° and 50°C, and because percent disinfestation and control was most effective at 50°C, these findings were examined under field conditions. Field trials were carried out at a commercial drying station where the crated dates are placed on the ground inside a plastic-clad hothouse. The stacks were covered with plastic liners to form ‘drying ducts’ through which heated air was sucked using fans positioned at the opposite end of the ducts. It was shown that from 1 to 2 h were required for the dates to reach the set temperature of 50°C. During the following 2-h aeration, the dates were exposed to 50°C heated air, after which an examination of infested dates inserted into the drying ducts, and natural infestations showed that successful control and emigration were obtained. This method produced results comparable to those obtained with methyl bromide fumigation, and was suitable as a replacement technology for infestation control.

Propylene oxide: A potential quarantine and pre-shipment fumigant for disinfestation of nuts

Propylene oxide (PPO) was evaluated at a low pressure of 100 mm Hg for toxicity to different life stages of the Indianmeal mothPlodia interpunctella (Hübner) in the presence and absence of three species of nuts. Eggs and larvae were generally the most tolerant life stages in empty chambers and on the nut crops. Complete mortality of all life stages was achieved at a concentration x time (CT) product of 61.2 mg hl−1 for empty space fumigation. Dosages of 13.9, 60.3, 72.1 and 93.1 mgl−1 were required to kill 99% of the larvae when fumigation of 4-h duration took place in an empty chamber and in the presence of peanuts, almonds and walnuts, respectively. After an initial dose of 68.7 mgl−1 and a 5-h exposure time, sorption of PPO by peanuts, almonds and walnuts was relatively high, ranging from 87% of the initial concentration for peanuts to 91% for walnuts. PPO residues measured in peanuts, almonds and walnuts were 111, 46 and 80 ppm, respectively, 1 day after termination of fumigation. All of these values were below the 300 ppm maximum tolerance set by the FDA of the United States. These data show that the combination of PPO and low pressure has the potential to replace methyl bromide fumigation for quarantine and pre-shipment purposes.

Influence of temperature on toxicity of propylene oxide at low pressure againstTribolium castaneum

Toxicity of propylene oxide (PPO) at low pressure against the most common stored-product insect,Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), over a short exposure time, was tested at three different temperatures (16°, 22° and 30°C). Toxicities of PPO at 100 mm Hg were strongly influenced by ambient temperature. LD50 and LD99 toxicities ranged from 4.7 to 28.9 mgl−1 and from 10.5 to 72.6 mgl−1 respectively, showing that susceptibility was positively correlated to the temperature. The LD99 values for all life stages (except the larval stage) were significantly lower at 30° than those at 16° and 22°C. However, the LD99 values for all life stages (except the pupal stage) at 16° were not significantly different from those at 22°C. A concentration × time (Ct) product of 291, 171 and 98 mg h/l was required to obtain complete mortality (99%) ofT. castaneum at 16°, 22° and 30°C, respectively. Thus, the efficacy of PPO at 100 mm Hg to all life stages ofT. castaneum also decreased as the temperature decreased from 30° to 16°C.