The effect of ultrasonic pulses emitting from a commercialized ultrasonic device and from a novel random-ultrasonic generator developed at KSU, were tested for their ability to suppress reproduction in the Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner). The commercialized device generated peak frequencies at 21 kHz, 35 kHz, and 41 kHz, and produced a 94 dB sound pressure level at 50 cm (0 dB=20 log10(20 mPa/20 mPa). The KSU device uses a computer, arbitrary waveform generator, and custom electronics to generate ultrasonic pulses in the 20 to 100 kHz frequency range. The computer chooses the frequency, pulse duration at each frequency, and a quiet time between pulses across the entire frequency range, at random. The sound pressure level was around 95 dB in the center of the test enclosures. Ultrasound emitted from both of the devices significantly impacted Indianmeal moth reproduction. The number of larvae, larval weight, and number of spermatophores transferred to female Indianmeal moth decreased significantly in the presence of ultrasound. Approximately 50% less number of larvae and 65% less larval biomass were found from the enclosures with ultrasound when compared with enclosures without ultrasound. A female had an average of 1.5 spermatophores under ultrasonic exposure compared to had 2.1 spermatophores without ultrasound. These laboratory data suggest that use of ultrasound might be an alternative strategy to manage this important stored-product pest pest.
Species 1: Lepidoptera Pyralidae Plodia interpunctella (Indian meal moth)
Keywords: Stored Product insects, ultrasound, nonchemical management
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA