Effects of Different Infra-Red Irradiations on the Survival of Granary Weevil

摘要

The granary weevil Sitophilus granarius is a cosmopolitan insect that causes substantial damage to many stored products. Control methods based on the use of sustainable, residual insecticide-free methods are gaining importance due to their features such as bioactivity, biodegradability, and ecological safety. However, despite the finding that different irradiation methods have proven efficacious, infrared treatment has not gained widespread application, as different aspects of its application have not yet been explored. In this study, we evaluated the activity-inducing and mortality effect profile of infrared irradiation on S. granarius. The impact of the distance between the radiation emitter and the treated material on the mortality rate was tested in search of optimal results. Adult-perishing and progeny-suppressive effects caused by infrared irradiation in S. granarius were confirmed. Our results point out that the efficacy of treatment depends on the optimal distance between the treated specimen and the emitter. Information on adult-activity triggered by radiation facilitates the application of other control methods and the optimization of their timing. In summary, our findings indicate that the use of infrared irradiation for the post-harvest protection of cereals is feasible, which can contribute to the realization of endeavors aimed at environmentally friendly and residuum-free pest management.