The effect of silica aerogel on the mortality of Tribolium confusum (Duval) as a function of exposure time and food deprivation

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The results of a series of tests on the efficacy of a silica aerogel, Aerosil 380, are presented. A graded response in mortality of T. confusum was noted with varying exposure time (i.e., 1, 2, 3 or 5 h) to the dust. Exposure to the dust and deprivation of food accelerated the initiation of mortality, and altered the shape of the cumulative mortality curves. Although some other types of insecticidal action by inert dusts (e.g., abrasion) not noted in our experiments, where adsorptivity was considered as the main mode of action, may lead to subsequent desiccation of insects and produce the type of data obtained. These mechanisms (adsorptivity, abrasion) are probably not the sole (or major) mechanisms leading to mortality. Whether the insects die because of desiccation (weight loss) or whether desiccation accompanies the process of dying, remains open to further investigation.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: