Natural Formulation Based on Diatomaceous Earth and Botanicals against Stored Product Insects

Abstract

Diatomaceous earth (DE) has long been known as a potential protectant for stored cereals against various stored product insects. Despite favorable effect for the environment and human health, DE has some negative side effects on the treated commodity. In order to minimize negative response and to improve its efficacy, this paper represents a study of developed natural formulation based on DE SilicoSec® enhanced with botanicals (essential oil lavender, corn oil, and bay leaves dust) and silica gel. The activity of formulation (labeled as N Form) was tested against Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) in seed wheat and barley under controlled conditions. As a reference comparative value, DE SilicoSec® was used. N Form showed higher efficacy than DE, especially in barley at the lowest concentration, inducing higher mortality of all three insect species. The highest average progeny inhibition was recorded in R. dominica population both in seed wheat and barley with 94.9% and 96.3% of inhibition, respectively, followed with S. oryzae and T. castaneum inhibition of 90.6% and 86.1%, respectively, in wheat and 94.9% and 89.7%, respectively, in barley. Results indicate that the developed natural formulation N Form enhanced the activity of DE SilicoSec® using lower amount of DE dust and that it could be successfully implemented for storage of cereals as alternatives to chemical pesticides for stored product insect control.

Combined and individual effects of diatomaceous earth and methyl eugenol against stored products insect pests

“…Based on the results, it is considered that a Detech and ME combination is feasible against R. dominica but it was not effective against T. confusum, S granarius and S. zeamais. In a previous study, Form N, a mixture of SilicoSec and other ingredients was reported to provide higher mortality of S. oryzae, R. dominica and T. castaneum than DE alone, especially in barley (Paponja et al, 2020). Korunic & Fields (2020) revealed that the simultaneous usage of diatomaceous earth with dill essential oil, silica gel, pyrethrin, disodium octaborate tetrahydrate and yeast were more effective than DE alone.…”

Residual Efficacy of Two Diatomaceous Earths from Greece for the Control of Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) on Wheat and Maize

“…Nevertheless, a major shortcoming of the addition of DEs into stored grains is the need for dose rates much higher than those of conventional insecticides, i.e., doses that often may exceed 1000 ppm (1 kg DE per ton −1 of grain) [7]. In this context, several modified formulations that can be effective at lower concentrations have been tested with often contradictory results [8,9]. Another way to increase DE efficacy while keeping their dose rates low is to apply them simultaneously with other agents, such as neurotoxic insecticides [9,10].…”

Low‐pressure ozone injection system: relationship between reaction kinetics and physical properties of grains

“…7 Physical methods include moisture content reduction (drying), temperature control (aeration/cooling), grain cleaning, adequate packaging, and application of inert powders. [7][8][9] Biological control employs living organisms, such as Amblyseius swirskii (Ath.-Henr) (Acari, Gamasida, Phytoseiidae), for controlling eggs of Zabrotes subfasciatus (Bohemann, 1833) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), 10 the larval parasitoids Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Lariophagus distinguishandus (Föster, 1841) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), against Callosobruchus chinensis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), 11 and nematodes like Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Poinar, 1976) (Rhabditida: Heterorhabditidae) and Steinernema feltiae (Filipjev, 1934) (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae), against Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky, 1885) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). 12 Chemical control comprises the application of pesticides, and it can be preventive (with contact insecticides) or curative (phosphine fumigation, for example).…”