The relative toxicity and persistence of insecticides applied as water-dispersible powders against stored-product beetles

Twelve insecticides, formulated as water-dispersible powders, were applied to strips of filter paper and their toxicities to eight species of stored-product beetles were determined. The insecticides were DDT, methoxychlor, lindane, aldrin, dieldrin, synergized pyrethrins, malathion, fenthion, Chlorthion, diazinon, trichlorphon and carbaryl. The insects were adults of Sitophilus granarius (L.), S. zeamais Mots., Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Stegobium paniceum (L.), Lasioderma serricorne (F.), and Ptinus tectus Boield. Tables of LD 50 values are presented in terms of deposits of active ingredient between the limits investigated, namely 0.625 and 80 mg./sq.ft., for 2-day and 3-day periods of continuous exposure at 25d? C. and 70% R.H. The data give a broad view of the susceptibility of each insect species to the different insecticides, the effectiveness of each insecticide against the range of insect species, and the speed of action of the insecticides. Trichlorphon had a very low toxicity to all species except O. surinamensis and was omitted from further testing. Deposits of the remaining eleven water-dispersible powders on filter paper were stored and tested at intervals up to 16 months. This yielded information on the persistence of the formulations after application to a chemically inert substrate. Five of the insecticides-malathion, fenthion, Chlorthion, diazinon and carbaryl were then investigated for their persistence on cement, tile, whitewash on tile, wood, and sacking. This test revealed loss of effectiveness of some of the organophosphorus insecticides because of volatility or of alkalinity of the substrate, although some of the results obtained with tiles were difficult to explain. Factors such as surface activity, porosity and real surface area may have played a role, as well as the physical state of the insecticide in the formulation.