Mercury as a Preventive against Stored Grain Pests

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Abstract
Mercury and tin amalgam were tried in mud bins, metallic bins and bamboo bins at different places in the Punjab. Mercury distributed throughout the bin at the rate of 3–4 tolas per maund of wheat proved effective in completely checking the increase of various stored grain pests. Mercury used at the bottom and top 10–12 in. layer of grains in the bin also proved fairly effective. Tin amalgam even with as high a dose as 13½ tolas per maund of wheat did not prove effective. Loss of mercury during use is very slight. Mercury has no deleterious effect on the germination or eating quality of wheat.Mercury kills the fresh eggs of stored grain pests, but the eggs in an advanced stageof development are not adversely affected. It retards the growth but does not kill the larvae of T. granarium and Bruchus sp. It has no effect on the pupae, but affects the egg laying capacity of adults very slightly.

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