ALFRED PREMJITH JINHAM, SOLOMON KIRUBA, JESUDASAN THOMBI THANKA KUMARAN, SATHIADAS SAM MANOHAR DAS
Abstract
Physical control methods are preferred in post-harvest management of insect pests because chemical intervention is extremely hazardous.
Use of audible sound waves in insect pest intervention is a novel idea which has not been popular hitherto. An attempt has been made in this study,
to understand the mechanical impact of sine sound waves on red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), a common secondary pest of fl our
and other stored products. Last instar T. castaneum larvae (n = 50 and number of replicates = 4) were bombarded with 12 different frequencies of sine
sound waves (900 to 2 000 Hz) by placing them directly on a matted polymer surface facilitating maximum sound absorption. The LD50 value of sine sound waves
for the larvae was 665.14 and the LD90 1339.43 Hz. The dorsal pronotum of adult beetles, developing from bombarded larva were studied using scanning electron
microscope (SEM) to look for mechanical damage of the dorsal cuticle. The setae were lost or damaged, the epicuticle was obliterated and the sockets became obscure.
The results of the study would throw light on the applications of sound waves in the interventional management of stored products pests.
Key words:
Physical control; last instar larvae; sine sound waves; mechanical damage; scanning electron micrograph