Abstract
Chitin synthesis inhibitors (CSIs) have specific mode of action on insects and lower toxicity against non-target organisms
and are potential alternative to control insect populations which are resistant to traditional insecticides. Therefore, to assess
the safe alternatives to commonly used organophosphate and pyrethroid, against which insects are resistant already, in stored
grain insect management, three commercially available (CSIs): Flufenoxuron (0.0015, 0.003 and 0.006ppm), Triflufenuron
(0.02, 0.04 and 0.08ppm) and Lufenuron (0.01, 0.02 and 0.04ppm) were applied to evaluate their potential side effects
(mortality and transgenerational effects) on Trogoderma granarium, one of the world’s most destructive pests of grain
products and seeds, in wheat grains at 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18 days interval during 2008-2010 at storage management cell of
department of Entomology, University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The tested larval instars of T. granarium were released in
pesticides mixed flour in vials. As a result, the highest concentration of each CSI at the longest exposure interval showed
greater effectiveness than lower concentrations and shorter exposures. Triflumuron at 0.08 ppm gave rise to 42% larval
mortality after 18 days of exposure, 44% reduction in adult emergence, and 60% fewer F1 progeny. The effectiveness of
these CSIs was found to be positively correlated with treatment concentration and duration. These findings provide
coherence understanding in storage pest management in Pakistan where wheat in mills and goodowns damaged annually due
to T. granarium.
