The current search aimed to use non traditional methods to control stored products pests which attacking stored products specially grain and cause great losses without any changes on contents and quality. A microwave apparatus was tested for capability to detect hidden insects of different sizes and activity levels in stored products. In initial studies, Bruchidius incarnates and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) were easily detected. Boxes of broad bean and flour were artificially infested with 30 insects to estimate the reliability of detection. The ratings were significantly correlated with the numbers of infesting insects. The microwave has potential applications in management rapid, nondestructive targeting of incipient insect infestations would be of benefit to the producers and consumers of packaged foods. Insect mortality studies were performed with a high-power microwave source operating at a frequency of 2.45 GHz to irradiate samples of wheat infested with red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and broad bean Beetle bruchidius incarnates . These pests are common internal and external feeders in stored products, respectively. Samples at Larvae and adult were exposed. The results support the hypothesis that the insect-to-host dissipation ratio increases at frequencies >2.45 GHz. Mean mortalities were 93 and 96% for both adults and larvae of T. castaneum , respectively. But for Bruchidius incarnates , mean mortalities were 90 and 92% for both adults and larvae, respectively.
展开▼