Efficacy of nanostructured silica as a stored pulse protector against the infestation of bruchid beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

Abstract

The treatment of hydrophobic silica nanoparticles (SNPs) with the pulse seeds of Cajanus cajan, Macrotyloma uniflorum, Vigna mungo, Vigna radiata, Cicer arietinum and Vigna unguiculata against the infestation of stored pulse beetle, Callosobruchus maculatus revealed a significant reduction in oviposition, adult emergence and seed damage potential. There was a complete retardation of growth of this beetle in the treated seeds of C. cajan. SNPtreated seeds of these six varieties of pulses revealed no effect on the growth of seeds as revealed by seed germination, growth rate of root and shoot. Similarly, the soil microflora measured in terms of colony forming units was not affected by silica nanoparticles upon its treatment with pulse seeds. The results of this study thus clearly demonstrated the useful nature of silica nanoparticles as seed protecting agent for the control of C. maculatus.

Insecticidal efficacy of nano zeolite against Tribolium confusum (Col., Tenebrionidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus (Col., Bruchidae)

“…This could have prevented the mating as the zeolite nanoparticles attach all over the body of adult insects, it was not only desiccation or blockage of spiracles, but also the surface enlargement of integument as a consequence of dehydration (Voigt et al 2009). The damage could have occurred to the protective wax coat on the cuticle of insects, both by absorption of epicuticular lipids from insect's exoskeleton causing excessive dehydration and abrasion (Debnath et al 2011;Arumugam et al 2016;Lu et al 2017). The fine zeolite particles create micro-wounds which are analogous with particle size.…”

Comparative insecticidal activity of nano and coarse silica on the Chinese beetle Callosobruchus Chinensis (L) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

“…Callosobruchus maculatus revealed a significant reduction in oviposition, adult emergence and seed damage potential with no effect on seeds germination, growth rate of root and shoot (Arumugam et al, 2016). Therefore, the present investigation was conducted to determine the entomotoxicity (the insecticidal efficacy) of normal (coarse) particles of silica (CS) and nanoparticles (SNPs) against C. Chinensis and the delayed effect of both silica types on the number of emerged adults of the first generation post-parent exposure.…”

Nanometerization of thiamethoxam by a cationic star polymer nanocarrier efficiently enhances the contact and plant‐uptake dependent stomach toxicity against green peach aphids

“…Nanopesticides are defined as any pesticide formulation that involves either nano‐sized particles of a pesticide AI or other small engineered structures with biocidal properties 19,28,29 . One strategy is the application of nanoparticles as AIs 30–32 . For instance, the insecticidal activity of chitosan‐g‐poly(acrylic acid) nanoparticles was tested on three insect pests, and the mean number of eggs deposited per female decreased significantly after nano‐chitosan treatment 33 .…”