Evaluation of the effect of ozone fumigation in controlling the Sawtoothed Grain Beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis and the Dry Fruits Beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ozone gas on the harmful stages (larvae and adults) of the saw-toothed beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis and the dry fruit beetle Carpophilus hemipterus, which are economic insects that infest stored fruits, grains and dates, causing significant economic losses. The results of the study of ozone gas treatment against adults and larvae of the two insects for four exposure periods (60, 90, 120, 150 minutes) showed that the mortality rate (%) of adults and larvae increased with increasing exposure period and reached 100% in adults and larvae of the saw-toothed beetle O. surinamensis on the seventh day at a 150-minute exposure period and 80 and 76% in adults and larvae of the dry fruit beetle C. hemipterus, respectively, at the same exposure period. The percentage of ozone-treated eggs inactivated after exposure for 150 minutes to the saw-toothed beetle and the dry fruit beetle was 35 and 46%, respectively.

Keywords:

Saw-toothed beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, fruit beetle, Carpophilus hemipterus, ozone gas.