Impact of IPM practices on insect populations in retail pet stores.

Abstract

Stored-product insect infestations in retail pet stores cost pet food manufacturers millions of dollars annually, but there are no studies documenting the effectiveness of pest management practices in pet stores. Our study was designed to determine species associated with eight pet stores in Kansas, USA, and to evaluate the impact of chemical and non-chemical intervention on insect populations. Food and pheromone-baited traps were used to estimate numbers of stored-product beetles and the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella. Traps were placed in a grid pattern in each store, and trap catches were recorded every 1-3 weeks. Spatial analyses of trap catch data were used for monitoring infestations and for evaluating effectiveness of pest management measures. Measures used against pests included sanitation (sweeping, vacuuming and/or discarding infested products) or sanitation in combination with an insect growth regulator, hydroprene 9% EC, or a pyrethroid, cyfluthrin 20 WP. Each treatment (sanitation or sanitation plus pesticide application) was replicated in two stores. Two stores that were left untreated served as the control. Traps in the stores captured a total of 41 266 adults and 3032 larvae of 36 insect species belonging to 23 families and 7 orders. Infestations were generally associated with birdseed, small-animal foods, or spilled food. Sanitation in conjunction with hydroprene or cyfluthrin applications on targeted floor areas reduced beetle numbers but did not greatly affect Indian meal moth numbers. The significance of these findings is discussed.

The Presence of Flour Affects the Efficacy of Aerosolized Insecticides used to Treat the Red Flour Beetle,Tribolium castaneum

“…Data shown here strongly suggest that level of sanitation before insecticide application was more important than use of a particular insecticide. Excellent sanitation also forces insects to move around ( Roesli et al 2003 ; Toews et al 2005a ) and could thereby increase the potential for insecticide contact. Campbell and Hagstrum ( 2002 ) found that T. castaneum spend much more time in food patches than outside food patches.…”

Monitoring Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) in pilot-scale warehouses treated with β-cyfluthrin: are residual insecticides and trapping compatible?

“…Many studies have shown that insect captures will be greater under refugia, in corners, along walls and near food sources (Arbogast et al, 2002;Campbell & Hagstrum, 2002;Toews et al, 2005a). In the absence of contact pesticide usage, good sanitation in the warehouse or retail environment increases the number of insects captured in traps (Roesli et al, 2003a;Toews et al, 2005a). These data show that pesticide usage is another factor that must be considered when evaluating population indices based on pheromone trapping captures.…”

“…For example, excellent mortality to T. castaneum as a result of cyfluthrin exposure on steel, concrete and painted surfaces has been thoroughly documented under laboratory conditions (Arthur, 1994a(Arthur, ,b, 1998(Arthur, , 1999a(Arthur, ,b, 2000. Previous studies have attributed population suppression in grain processing and retail establishments to cyfluthrin use (Roesli et al, 2003a;Toews et al, 2006a). Barrier treatments, consisting of a narrow band of cyfluthrin around a protected area, have been previously used to suppress trap captures of structure-infesting ants such as Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) (Rust et al, 1996;Scharf et al, 2004).…”

Evaluation of Synergized Pyrethrin Aerosol for Control of <I>Tribolium castaneum</I> and <I>Tribolium confusum</I> (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

“…In addition, cleaning procedures followed by the mill sanitarians may inßuence insect movement through increased searching for food patches, which potentially increases their chances of contacting the applied aerosols (Roesli et al 2003). However, milling facilities have considerable structural complexity because of different types of processing equipment and are continuously generating spillage and food residues.…”