Potential of piperonyl butoxide‐synergised pyrethrins against psocids (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae) for stored‐grain protection

BACKGROUND: Piperonyl butoxide (PB)‐synergised natural pyrethrins (pyrethrin:PB ratio 1:4) were evaluated both as a grain protectant and a disinfestant against four Liposcelidid psocids: Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, L. entomophila (Enderlein), L. decolor (Pearman) and L. paeta Pearman. These are key storage pests in Australia that are difficult to control with the registered grain protectants and are increasingly being reported as pests of stored products in other countries. Firstly, mortality and reproduction of adults were determined in wheat freshly treated at 0.0, 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 6 mg kg^?1 of pyrethrins + PB (1:4) at 30 ± 1 °C and 70 ± 2% RH. Next, wheat treated at 0.0, 1.5, 3 and 6 mg kg^?1 of pyrethrins + PB (1:4) was stored at 30 ± 1 °C and 70 ± 2% RH and mortality and reproduction of psocids were assessed after 0, 1.5, 3 and 4.5 months of storage. Finally, the potential of synergised pyrethrins as a disinfestant was assessed by establishing time to endpoint mortality for adult psocids exposed to wheat treated at 3 and 6 mg kg^?1 of synergised pyrethrins after 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12 h of exposure. RESULTS: Synergised pyrethrins at 6 mg kg^?1 provided 3 months of protection against all four Liposcelis spp., and at this rate complete adult mortality of these psocids can be achieved within 6 h of exposure. CONCLUSION: Piperonyl butoxide‐synergised pyrethrins have excellent potential both as a grain protectant and as a disinfestant against Liposcelidid psocids. Copyright © State of Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, 2010. Published by John Wiley and Sons, Ltd.     

Influence of concentration, temperature and humidity on the toxicity of phosphine to the strongly phosphine-resistant psocid Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae)

BACKGROUND: The psocid Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel, is a widespread, significant pest of stored commodities, has developed strong resistance to phosphine, the major grain disinfestant. The aim was to develop effective fumigation protocols to control this resistant pest. RESULTS: Time to population extinction of all life stages (TPE) in days was evaluated at a series of phosphine concentrations and temperatures at two relative humidities. Regression analysis showed that temperature, concentration and relative humidity all contributed significantly to describing TPE (P<0.001, R(2)=0.95), with temperature being the dominant variable, accounting for 74.4% of the variation. Irrespective of phosphine concentration, TPE was longer at lower temperatures and high humidity (70% RH) and shorter at higher temperatures and low humidity (55% RH). At any concentration of phosphine, a combination of higher temperature and lower humidity provides the shortest fumigation period to control resistant L. bostrychophila. For example, 19 and 11 days of fumigation are required at 15 degrees C and 70% RH at 0.1 and 1.0 mg L(-1) of phosphine respectively, whereas only 4 and 2 days are required at 35 degrees C and 55% RH for the same respective concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: The developed fumigation protocols will provide industry with flexibility in application of phosphine.     

嗜卷书虱和嗜虫书虱酯酶性质的比较研究

对嗜卷书虱Liposcelis bostrychophila和嗜虫书虱L. entomophila羧酸酯酶及乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的生物化学性质进行了初步研究。结果表明:嗜虫书虱的羧酸酯酶活性明显高于嗜卷书虱,嗜卷书虱和嗜虫书虱羧酸酯酶对底物α-NA的Km值分别为0.665 7、0.285 7 mmol/L,Vmax值分别为1.672 2和2.463 1 mmol·(mg·30 min)-1。嗜卷书虱和嗜虫书虱乙酰胆碱酯酶的活性差异不显著,嗜虫书虱略高于嗜卷书虱。通过聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳,检测出8条嗜卷书虱、7条嗜虫书虱酯酶同工酶谱带,嗜卷书虱的酶谱分布比嗜虫书虱广。     

灌淤土小麦／玉米间套不同供磷水平群体产量和根系生长形态分析

采用根箱法在不同供磷水平下,对春小麦和玉米在间作和单作情况下的产量和根系形态进行了比较研究。结果表明,适量的供磷能促进小麦、玉米产量的提高,过高反而减少。在施纯P2O50.1 g/kg土(P1)、0.2g/kg土(P2)0、.3 g/kg土(P3)的3个供磷水平下,P2水平和P3水平比P1水平总体产量增长55.09%和40.17%;籽粒产量增长51.28%和56.27%。单作小麦生物产量提高了35.89%~41.11%,穗粒重提高了21.71%~65.79%。随供磷水平的增加,整个根系根重基本上呈现出先增加后减少的趋势,但均高于低磷水平。单作小麦和间作玉米的根长在0~50 cm的土层中随供磷水平的增高,呈增长趋势,相对于低磷水平其增长幅度分别为11.78%~31.16%和39.83%~53.76%,而单作玉米根长呈先增加后减少的趋势。     

小麦/玉米间作和氮肥对水分利用的影响

以甘肃河西灌区为试验地点,探讨了在两个氮水平下6个小麦品种与玉米间作对水分的利用情况,结果表明:不同品种小麦与玉米间作,小麦收获后,间作小麦土壤含水量都高于单作,间作玉米土壤含水量低于单作;玉米收获后,与6个小麦品种间作的玉米土壤含水量都高于单作;但不同小麦品种在土层深度上又有差异.不施氮条件下,6个小麦品种与玉米间作相对于单作水分消耗量(WU)减少4.82%～8.79%,小麦品种171与玉米间作相对于单作水分利用效率(WUE)增加9.25%,而其余5个品种与玉米间作较单作减少2.30%～15.06%.在300 kg/hm2氮水平下,6个小麦品种与玉米间作较单作WU减少1.09%～6.96%,WUE增加10.76%～29.56%.     

Long-term effectiveness of grain protectants and structural treatments against Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae), a pest of stored products

Numerous strains of the psocid pest, Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) were collected from farms and central storages and interbred to form three representative strains from three major grain-growing states of Australia: Queensland, South Australia and New South Wales. These were tested against the grain protectants and structural treatments currently registered for use in Australia. Recently, L decolor has become an important pest of stored grain in Australia, particularly in the eastern and southern parts. There is no published information available on management of this pest and the current pest-management strategy, based predominantly on phosphine fumigation, has failed to control infestations of this pest in numerous grain storages in Australia. Alternative methods of control such as use of contact insecticides were explored in the present work to supplement phosphine fumigation to manage this new pest. From eight grain protectants tested as admixtures, only chlorpyrifos-methyl, bioresmethrin plus piperonyl butoxide, and fenitrothion were found to provide long term (3-9 months) protection against all three strains of L decolor. Chlorpyrifos-methyl gave the best protection, providing a minimum of 7.5 to a maximum of 9 months protection, depending on the strains tested. Three structural treatments, azamethiphos, azamethiphos plus carbaryl and permethrin provided long-term control (8-9 months) of all three strains of L decolor on galvanised steel surfaces, with permethrin delivering 9 months protection against all strains. However, all of these treatments failed to provide long-term control of any strains on concrete surfaces. We conclude that chlorpyrifos-methyl as a grain admixture can be incorporated into fumigation strategies to optimise the control of L decolor infestations. Structural treatments, such as permethrin can be used to support a fumigation strategy in storages made of galvanised steel.     

地下水埋深对冬小麦和春玉米产量及水分生产效率的影响

利用排水式蒸渗仪,通过设置6种地下水位控制处理(地下水位埋深分别为0.5、1.0、1.5、2.0、2.5 m和3.0 m)试验,探讨了太原盆地不同地下水埋深对冬小麦和春玉米生长指标、产量、产量构成因素及水分生产效率(WUE)的影响.结果表明,地下水埋深对冬小麦和春玉米千粒重的影响较小,对冬小麦干.物质重影响显著(P=0...     

不同N、P、K配比对小麦、玉米光合生理及周年水分利用的影响

为探明不同N、P、K配比在等灌水量条件下对小麦、玉米光合生理特征及周年水分利用的机理,采用大田实验,研究了不同N、P、K配比对小麦、玉米光合生理、产量及水分利用等的影响。结果表明:在小麦、玉米关键生育期进行适量灌水并进行追肥,促进了小麦、玉米对水分和养分的吸收,实现水肥同步,改善其光合生理特征,促进节水增产。不同处理均显著提高了小麦和玉米的光合速率和叶片水分利用效率,且均以N3P2K2处理的光合速率和叶片水分利用效率最高(小麦分别为16.59μmol·m~(-2)·s-1和36.07μmol·mmol-1,玉米分别为29.26μmol·m~(-2)·s-1和27.1μmol·mmol-1)。同时,不同N、P、K配比均提高了小麦、玉米的成产要素。最终,以N2P2K2和N3P2K2处理的增产和节水效果最佳,其小麦、玉米单产和二者总产均高于其它处理,其小麦、玉米总产量分别较对照提高了30.3%和26.8%,周年水分利用效率分别较对照提高了30.5%和27.4%。而从经济的角度考虑,本文推荐的N、P、K配比为N2P2K2。     

草地贪夜蛾对小麦和玉米的产卵选择性及其种群生命表

为明确草地贪夜蛾对小麦的产卵选择性及其是否对小麦安全生产构成威胁,本研究以玉米和小麦作为测试寄主,比较分析了草地贪夜蛾对两种作物不同部位的产卵选择性,并利用两性生命表方法研究了取食小麦、玉米对其生命参数的影响。结果表明:草地贪夜蛾更喜欢在玉米上产卵,其在玉米、小麦叶片、玉米和小麦茎秆上的产卵量存在显著差异(df=102,F=15.593,P<0.05),以玉米叶片背面卵块数量(7.11±1.55)块/笼最高;草地贪夜蛾取食小麦可以完成生活史,但幼虫存活率、化蛹率、羽化率和世代存活率低于取食玉米。取食玉米的幼虫发育历期为(16.31±0.15)d,显著高于取食小麦的(14.66±0.12)d,蛹期、蛹重、产卵前期、成虫寿命和世代周期无显著差异。取食小麦羽化出的雌虫寿命、平均单雌产卵量显著高于取食玉米,分别为(16.39±0.40)d、(976.31±57.21)粒和(14.64±0.32)d、(831.57±30.55)粒。生命表参数显示取食玉米的净增殖率为363.14,显著高于小麦的258.63,但内禀增长率、周限增长率和平均世代周期无显著差异。研究结果为草地贪夜蛾在小麦上的预测预报和有效防控提供了基础数据。     

Persistence and efficacy of two diatomaceous earth formulations and a mixture of diatomaceous earth with natural pyrethrum against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on wheat and maize

Laboratory tests were conducted to assess the insecticidal and residual effects of three diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations, Insecto, PyriSec and SilicoSec, against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val on wheat and maize. Quantities of wheat and maize were treated with the above formulations at 500, 1000 and 1500 mg kg(-1) and stored at 25 degrees C and 55% relative humidity (RH). Samples were taken on the day of storage and every 30 days until completion of a 360 day period of storage. Adults of T. confusum were exposed to these samples at 25 degrees C and 55% RH and the mortality was measured after 24 and 48 h and 7 and 14 days of exposure. Adult mortality was higher on wheat than on maize. At the beginning of the storage period, mortalities after 14 day exposure on maize treated with the highest rate were 60, 63 and 81% for Insecto, PyriSec and SilicoSec respectively, while on wheat the mortality was 100% for all DEs. On the same commodities 360 days after treatment the respective mortality figures for wheat were 99, 98 and 100%, while in the case of maize they did not exceed 7%. Generally, mortality at exposures < or =48 h decreased with increasing storage time. Furthermore, although mortality on wheat increased with dose, the increase in DE dose from 1000 to 1500 mg kg(-1) resulted in only a small increase in mortality. Thus a DE treatment of 1000 mg kg(-1) was shown to provide long-term protection of wheat against T. confusum, although higher DE application rates and exposure intervals are needed for a satisfactory level of protection of maize against this pest.     

氟虫腈(锐劲特)对水稻害虫防治效果及增产效应

为了阐明新一代杀虫剂氟虫腈(锐劲特)对二化螟、三化螟、稻纵卷叶螟的防治效果及应用前景,进行了水稻盆栽试验、田间防效试验,并对施用锐劲特后水稻叶绿素含量、功能叶叶面积和产量进行了测定。结果表明,锐劲特施药后13天接虫的三化螟幼虫死亡率仍高达94.44％。在田间防效试验中,每公顷施用锐劲特80％WG有效成分24g防治二化螟,防止枯心效果达97.62％,防止白穗效果达94.44％,害虫死亡率达96.15％;每公顷施用锐劲特5％SC有效成分22.5g防治晚稻三化螟,保苗效果可达95.91％,害虫死亡率达99.04％;每公顷施用锐劲特5％SC有效成分30g防治稻纵卷叶螟,保叶效果达97.88％。叶绿素含量比对照增加32.4％;每公顷施用锐劲特80％WG有效成分36g时,功能叶叶面积增加16％～27.5％,并且杂交稻博优湛19比常规稻早糯3321和早熟早籼815对锐劲特更敏感。每公顷施用锐劲特5％SC有效成分22.5～37.5g时,水稻株高增加4.0～6.1cm,每稻丛穗数增加2.6％～31.18％,结实率提高19.43％～33.97％,水稻产量增加21.58％～28.19％。     

Extraction of allyl isothiocyanate from horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) and its fumigant insecticidal activity on four stored‐product pests of paddy

BACKGROUND: Isothiocyanates (ITCs) extracted from Armoracia rusticana Gaertn., May & Scherb. have been shown previously to have insecticidal activity. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a major component of ITCs with high volatility, was therefore extracted using different methods and tested as a fumigant against four major pest species of stored products, maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch.), lesser grain borer Rhizopertha dominica (F.), Tribolium ferrugineum (F.) and book louse Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein). RESULTS: Whereas there was no significant difference between hydrodistillation and supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction in extraction rate for AITC from A. rusticana, both methods resulted in higher extraction efficiency than water extraction. AITC fumigation showed strong toxicity to the four species of stored‐product pests. Adult mortality of 100% of all four pest species, recorded after 72 h exposure to AITC fumes at an atmospheric concentration of 3 µg mL^?1, showed no significant difference from that of insects exposed to phosphine at 5 µg mL^?1, the recommended dose for phosphine. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest good insecticidal efficacy of AITC against the four stored‐product pests, with non‐gaseous residuals on stored products. AITC obtained from A. rusticana may be an alternative to phosphine and methyl bromide against the four pest species. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

气候变化对河南省小麦和玉米气候资源利用效率的影响

基于1981—2016年河南省29个农业气象试验站逐日气象数据和小麦、玉米产量资料,分析气候变化背景下小麦、玉米的光、热、水气候资源利用效率,计算各气候因子对气候资源利用效率的贡献率和气候资源利用率综合指数,进行气候资源利用效率综合评估。结果表明：小麦生长季光能资源利用效率（LUE）为1.14~1.77 kg·MJ^-1,热量资源利用效率（HUE）为1.3~2.5 kg·℃^-1·d^-1·hm^-2,降水资源利用效率（PUE）为8~43 kg·mm^-1·hm^-2,玉米生长季内LUE为1.8~2.5 kg·MJ^-1,HUE为1.32~1.78 kg·℃^-1·d^-1·hm^-2,PUE为9.5~15.1 kg·mm^-1·hm^-2。豫北、豫东地区LUE、HUE、PUE均高于豫西、豫南地区。对小麦、玉米气候资源利用效率贡献最大的分别是积温和降水。小麦生长季气候资源利用效率综合指数（CUE^*）在0.24~0.50,玉米生长季CUE^*在0.21~0.31,区域内差异明显,提高小麦HUE和玉米PUE有助于提高气候资源综合利用效率。     

玉米秸秆还田对冬小麦产量和不同生育期土壤硝态氮累积量的影响

以田间试验方法研究了玉米秸秆还田配施氮肥对后茬冬小麦产量和小麦生育期土壤硝态氮累积量的影响。试验采用裂区设计,主处理包括玉米秸秆还田(S1)和不还田(S0)2个处理,副处理为5个不同施氮水平,分别为0、84、168、252 kg·hm~(-2)和336 kg·hm~(-2)。结果表明,施氮量较低时(分别低于99 kg·hm~(-2)和79 kg·hm~(-2)时),秸秆还田处理小麦产量低于秸秆不还田处理,施氮量较高时则相反;两条氮肥肥效曲线呈相交规律。施氮252 kg·hm~(-2)时,秸秆还田处理分别增产9.5%和2.1%,施氮336 kg·hm~(-2)时,秸秆还田处理分别增产7.0%和5.6%。冬小麦冬前分蘖期土壤硝态氮主要累积在0~40 cm土层;施氮量高于84 kg·hm~(-2)时,秸秆还田处理硝态氮累积量有高于相同施氮量下不还田处理的趋势,其中0~20 cm土层N336+秸秆还田处理硝态氮累积量比不还田处理提高25%(武功试验地)。冬小麦返青期土壤硝态氮较冬前分蘖期大幅降低,此期秸秆还田处理0~20 cm土层硝态氮累积量有低于秸秆不还田处理的趋势。周至县连续三年田间试验结果表明,秸秆还田处理冬小麦收获期土壤硝态氮累积量有高于秸秆不还田处理的趋势,不施氮肥处理0~1 m土层秸秆还田比不还田处理累积量显著提高43.4%。秸秆还田对冬小麦产量和土壤硝态氮累积量的影响与施氮量有关,施氮量较低时秸秆还田条件下冬小麦返青期土壤硝态氮含量较低,引起作物速效氮供应的短期(返青期追施氮肥前)缺乏,影响小麦生长,进而导致小麦减产。连续秸秆还田处理有利于小麦收获期2 m土壤硝态氮累积,减少向下淋溶。     

微咸水灌溉对河北低平原土壤盐分动态和小麦、玉米产量的影响

在河北低平原有咸水区的2个试验站,通过田间小区试验,连续3年研究了2g·L-1咸淡混合水灌溉对土壤盐分动态和小麦、玉米产量的影响.结果表明,2g·L-1咸淡混合水灌溉显著提高了主根层和0～120 cm土体的含盐量.麦收后微咸水灌溉处理的根层土体ECe值3年平均比淡水灌溉分别增加0.092和0.091 dS·m-1,0～120 cm土体ECe3年平均比淡水灌溉分别增加0.051 dS·m-1和0.147 dS· m-1;玉米收获后微咸水灌溉处理的根层土体ECe3年平均比淡水灌溉分别增加0.059 dS·m-1和0.127 dS·m-1,0 ～ 120 cm土体ECe3年平均比淡水灌溉分别增加0.082 dS· m-1和0.131 dS·m-1.总体上2g·L-1咸淡混合水灌溉对小麦、玉米的产量没有影响.因此从微成水长期安全利用的角度,对土壤盐分动态进行长期监测,定期淡水淋盐是非常必要的.     

1981—2009年新疆小麦和玉米物候期与气候条件变化研究

选取新疆地区1981—2009年17个农业气象观测站的作物(包括春小麦、冬小麦、春玉米和夏玉米)物候资料,利用统计方法分析了作物物候和各生长阶段气候条件的变化趋势。结果表明,春小麦播种、抽穗和成熟期分别提前2.0、3.2和3.3 d·10a~(-1);冬小麦播种期平均推迟1.2 d·10a~(-1),而抽穗和成熟期分别提前4.7 d·10a~(-1)和2.8 d·10a~(-1);春玉米和夏玉米物候期主要呈提前趋势,其中夏玉米播种期平均提前达11.0 d·10a~(-1)。物候的提前或推迟一定程度上导致作物各生长阶段历时发生改变。分析发现新疆地区春小麦营养生长阶段(播种—抽穗)平均缩短1.2 d·10a~(-1),而生殖生长阶段(抽穗—成熟)平均仅缩短0.1 d·10a~(-1)。冬小麦营养生长阶段与生殖生长阶段呈相反的变化趋势,营养生长阶段平均缩短达5.9 d·10a~(-1),而生殖生长阶段却平均延长了1.9 d·10a~(-1),导致整个生育期平均缩短4.0 d·10a~(-1)。春玉米和夏玉米各生长阶段主要呈延长趋势,春玉米营养生长阶段、生殖生长阶段和整个生长阶段分别平均延长0.8 d·10a~(-1)、1.5 d·10a~(-1)和2.3 d·10a~(-1);夏玉米3个生长阶段分别平均延长7.2d·10a~(-1)、1.2 d·10a~(-1)和8.3 d·10a~(-1)。分析研究区1981—2009年不同作物类型各生长阶段气候因子的变化趋势结果表明,大部分研究站点,作物各生长阶段最高温度和最低温度均呈增加趋势,同时其生殖生长阶段的日温差主要呈降低趋势。分析降水变化趋势表明,除春小麦和春玉米生殖生长阶段降水呈增加趋势外,大部分研究站点降水变化趋势不明显。     

玉米和小麦幼苗根系导水率的测定与分析

采用压力室法测定了玉米和小麦苗期的根系导水率,并对升压法和降压法进行了比较。玉米苗期根系导水率测定结果表明,根系水流速率(Jv)随压力增加而增加,当静水压力△P<0.8 MPa时,降压法测得的水流速率显著大于升压法,△P为0.8~1.2 MPa时两者的测定结果基本相同,表明降压法测得的Jv与升压法的Jv之间的数值变化随△P压力改变有一个临界点。先升压再降压或降压后再升压过程比较发现,后一过程的Jv总是大于前一过程,说明压力诱导可能改变水分传导的方式。在0~2.0 MPa压力范围中,对玉米水培和小麦土培试验的降压法测定中,Jv都会出现一个平台,表明其导水过程存在着特定的传导机制。     

草地贪夜蛾在小麦和不同玉米品种上的种群适合度比较

草地贪夜蛾Spodoptera frugiperda(J.E.Smith)是新入侵我国的重大迁飞性害虫,2019年在我国黄淮海冬小麦-夏玉米轮作主产区河南省呈点片发生,主要为害玉米,特别偏好取食晚播的甜糯玉米。为明确草地贪夜蛾在小麦和不同玉米品种上的种群适合度是否存在差异,本研究在室内(26±1)℃,RH(65±5)%和L//D=16 h//8 h光周期条件下比较了草地贪夜蛾在普通玉米‘郑单958’‘郑单1002’‘豫研1501’和糯玉米‘郑黄糯2号’以及小麦‘郑麦366’上生长发育指标。结果表明:取食‘郑麦366’的草地贪夜蛾的化蛹率(44.00±3.40)%、蛹重(138.62±6.76)mg、羽化率(35.00±3.07)%和单雌产卵量(971.70±125.63)粒均低于取食4个玉米品种的化蛹率(73.33%～80.00%)、蛹重(154.94～176.40)mg、羽化率(73.33%～79.33%)和单雌产卵量(1 052.00～1 322.60)粒(P0.05);草地贪夜蛾取食不同寄主植物的种群趋势指数由大到小顺序为:‘郑黄糯2号’(578.38)‘豫研1501’(493.40)和‘郑单958’(437.06)‘郑单1002’(321.47)‘郑麦366’(133.56)。综上表明,草地贪夜蛾在小麦上的适合度低于在玉米上的适合度,但其能够在小麦上完成生长发育并实现种群扩繁;其在糯玉米上的种群适合度大于普通玉米。因此应密切监测草地贪夜蛾在小麦上的发生和为害,并提出适时种植糯玉米作为诱集带并集中喷施杀虫剂来压低草地贪夜蛾种群数量的防控措施。     

Influence of grain type on the insecticidal efficacy of two diatomaceous earth formulations against Rhyzopertha dominica (F) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae)

Laboratory bioassays were carried out in order to evaluate the effectiveness of two diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations, Insecto and SilicoSec, against adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F) in eight different grain commodities. The adherence of the two DEs to each grain was also measured. The eight grains tested were wheat, whole barley, peeled barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice and maize. These commodities were treated with the DEs at three rates, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 g DE kg(-1) grain. The mortality of R dominica adults was measured after 24 h, 48 h, 7 days and 14 days of exposure in the treated grains at 26 degrees C and 55% RH. After the 14-day mortality count, all adults were removed and the treated grains retained under the same conditions for a further 60 days. The treated grains were subsequently examined for F1 progeny. Significant differences were recorded among the eight grain types as well as between the DE formulations tested. After 14 days of exposure, even at the lowest DE rate for both formulations, adult mortality was high (>90%) in wheat and triticale. In contrast, adult mortality was significantly lower in peeled barley. Increasing the rate improved the efficacy of the DEs significantly in only some of the grains tested. Reproductive capacity in all the treated grains was significantly suppressed when compared with untreated grains. Generally, more F1 individuals of R dominica were noted in the treated peeled barley than in the other commodities. Significant differences in the percentage of DE retention were noted among the eight grains. The highest retention level was noted in rice (>87%) and the lowest in maize (<6%). However, the degree of DE adherence to a given grain was not always indicative of the effectiveness of DE against R dominica.