Ovicidal activity of microwave and UV radiations on mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, 1879 ( Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Abstract

Insecticidal activity of microwave and ultraviolet radiation (UV) on E. kuehniella, 1879 (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs were investigated. Eggs (<= 24 h) were exposed to microwave and UV radiation at different time periods. Microwave radiation was applied at the powers of 150, 360, 430, and 600 W for different exposure times (10-300 s). It was evident that increasing power and exposure times caused increasing mortality on the eggs and accordingly larval emergence decreased. Complete mortality was achieved at the power of 150 W and the longest exposure time (300 s). The same result was achieved at the highest dose (600 W) and the shortest exposure time (10s). When the eggs were treated with the highest power of microwave radiation used, the lethal times were estimated as, 2.61 (LT50) and 7.34 s (LT99). Similarly short (254 nm) and long-wave UV (365 nm) radiations also decreased the larval emergence from E. kuehniella eggs depending on increasing time periods. The highest period of UV treatment (300 s) caused 92.20% and 28.89% egg mortality at 254 and 365 nm, respectively. The lethal times, LT50 and LT99 for short wave UV radiation were estimated to be 155.68 and 418.068 s, respectively.