Wirksamkeit des Kieselgurpräparates Dryacide® gegen vorratsschädliche Insekten

The diatomaceous earth (DE) Dryacide^® was tested under laboratory conditions on surfaces (2 g DE/m²) and in wheat grain (3 kg DE/t wheat) at a relative humidity of 70±5% and a temperature of 22±1°C. The wheat had a moisture content of 14.5%. The effect of surface treatments was tested onEphestia kuehniella, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Tenebrio molitor andTribolium castaneum. The efficacy of grain treatments was determined usingEphestia elutella, O. surinamensis, Sitophilus granarius andTribolium confusum. In both treatments adult and larval stages were included.100% mortality were reached with the surface treatments in adults and larvae ofO. surinamensis and the adults ofT. molitor andE. kuehniella after an exposition time of 3–9 days. AgainstT. castaneum and the larvae ofT. molitor andE. kuehniella no complete control could be achieved.In the grain treatments the dosage of 3 kg DE/t wheat reached 100% mortality in all tested pests exceptS. granarius. Most sensitive wereO. surinamensis andE. elutella. InT. confusum the adults died within 13 days of treatment, but for complete control of the larvae 13 weeks were necessary. AgainstS. granarius the silica dust showed no satisfactory efficacy, because 49 days after beginning of the examinations beetles of the progeny hatched. Dryacide^® could not prevent the reproduction of the granary weevil, but there was a lower number of progeny compared to the untreated control.