E cacy of gamma irradiation against sitophilus granarius(L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

The lethal and sterilizing responses to gamma irradiation of eggs, larvae, pupae, and three-day- and four-week-old adults of Sitophilus granarius were investigated. Doses were 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, 100, 300 and 500 Gy. Eggs and larvae were unable to develop to adults following doses of 30±500 Gy. Emergence of adults from irradiated eggs and larvae occurred at a dose of 10 Gy. Pupae developed to the adult stage following doses of 10±70 Gy. A dose of 70 Gy at the pupal and four-week-old adult stages caused sterility. Three-day-old adults were most tolerant of irradiation and required 100 Gy for sterility. The percentage of damage to wheat grains caused by pre-adult stages following various irradiation doses was determined. # 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.