The potential for select residual insecticides as post-application inspection tools

Effective control of stored product pest species can be a challenge as there is often difficulty locating the source(s) of the infestation. Despite proper chemical treatments and facility sanitation, infestations can quickly recur if the points of origin are not identified and treated. The goal of this research was to determine the potential use of residual insecticides as a post-application inspection tool. This was accomplished by evaluating the insecticide efficacy (LTx), in combination with the observations of post-exposure movement. We exposed representative populations of common stored product pests: L. serricorne, P. interpunctella, and T. variabile to different residual insecticides to determine their LT25, LT50, and LT90. Measurements were then made of insect movement, post exposure. Knowing the amount of time a particular residual pesticide needs to kill a percentage of a pest population and their movement patterns post-exposure can give an indication of the area that serves as an infestation’s point source. This information potentially has economic and environmental advantages: a reduction in the amount of labor needed to identify the point source; a decrease in the amount of chemical needed to treat a facility; a reduction in off-target applications; and the safeguarding of otherwise susceptible commodity.