Effect of microwave radiation on Tribolium confusum Jaquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchidae)

Abstract

A household microwave system was used to study the effect of microwave radiations on two stored products insects: Tribolium confusum and Callosobruchus maculatus in wheat flour and cowpea seed respectively. All experiments were conducted at five exposure times of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25sec at power level of 400 W. Mortality was significantly increased at LSD ˂ 0.05 with increase of exposure times. Complete mortality of T. confusum adults was obtained at 25 sec, whereas 98.8% mortality was obtained the same exposure time for C. maculatus adults. The emergence percentage, loss percentage of wheat grain infested with T. confusum, egg laying and germination of microwave treated cowpea seed were significantly decreased with increase in microwave exposure periods, which concluded that microwave could be used as alternative method for controlling insects in stored grain area