engleski

Insecticide potential of diatomaceous earth from Croatia

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a geological deposit consisting of the fossilized skeletons of numerous species of siliceous marine and fresh water one-cellular organisms, particularly diatoms and other algae. The skeletons are made of amorphous silicon dioxide. DE is probably the most effective natural inert dust used as an insecticide. DE is a low toxicity, natural insecticide. Several formulations of DE are registered and used as stored product protection insecticides around the world. The objective of the research was determination of the potential insecticide effectiveness of Croatian DE against stored products pests and the comparison of their effectiveness with the effectiveness of standard DE sample. One sample of the Croatian DE was selected and investigated. As a standard DE sample, the German fresh water DE SilicoSec was included into the experiment. SilicoSec formulation is registered as a grain protectant and belongs into a group of the most effective DEs in the world. The effectiveness of particle size fractions of the Croatian DE from most to least effective is: 0-20 microns (μm), 0-45μm 0- 150μm, 20-45μm and 45-150μm. The Croatian DE sample applied at 600mg/kg containing particle size 0-45μm showed with over 90% mortality after 1 day for Cryptolestes ferrugineus, after 3 days for Sitophilus oryzae, after 7 days for Rhyzopertha dominica and after 25 days for Tribolium castaneum. SilicoSec caused 100% mortality these insects at the same or shorter time periods The effectiveness of the Croatian DE containing particles smaller than 45μm was equally effective against the progeny if compared with the effectiveness of the standard DE. The authors conclude that Croatia has potential sources of DEs for ecological acceptable insecticide production and it is important to find new localities with even better sources of DEs. It can be a new safe and natural insecticide product from Croatia.

Croatia ; DE ; grain insects ; effectiveness ; particle size

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