Application of Vacuum in Transportable System for Insect Control
S. NAVARRO,1* J.E. DONAHAYE,¹ R. DIAS,¹ A. AZRIELI,¹ MIRIAM RINDNER,¹ T. PHILLIPS,² R. NOYES,² P. VILLERS,³ T. DEBRUIN,⁴ R. TRUBY⁵ AND R. RODRIGUEZ⁵
¹Agricultural Research Organization, Department of Stored Products, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel [*e-mail: vtshlo@netvision.net.il]
²Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
³GrainPro Inc. Concord, MA, 01742, USA
⁴Haogenplast Projects Ltd., Israel
⁵Mesoamerican Development Institute, MA, USA
Abstract: It was demonstrated that the response of insects to low pressures is temperature and moisture dependent. Trogoderma granarium quiescent larvae were considered the most resistant storage insects tested, a 172-h exposure to 25 mm Hg being necessary for their control at 30ºC. To control them within a 145-h exposure time it was necessary to increase the temperature to 35ºC.
The encouraging reports led to the idea of developing a transportable system to render the technology a practical tool for the control of insect pests. Two sets of experiments were carried out using a 15 m3 capacity plastic container termed the “GrainPro Cocoons™” or “Volcani Cube®”. This container is made of a flexible liner and characterized by its transportability. The first test was carried out in Foxboro MA, USA using an oil-lubricated vacuum pump (3 hp) to reduce the pressure to 25- mm Hg within 25 min. Then the pressure was maintained between 25 and 29 mm Hg for 17 days. Three sets of bioassay replicates were retrieved on day 3, 10, and 17 of treatment. Complete mortality of test insects was observed after the 3-days exposure to vacuum. The second test using vacuum was carried out in Israel using a similar set-up for the vacuum pump and the Volcani Cube. The purpose of these tests was to evaluate the technology so as to contribute to improved performance. Vacuum was maintained within 22 and 75 mm Hg for over 25 days.
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