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Unlocking the ways insect pests survive without air
18 Aug 2004
CSIRO is examining how insect pests survive in low oxygen environments, such as grain silos, and how to reduce multi-million dollar reliance on toxic fumigants to kill these pests. Entomologist Victoria Haritos says weevils, beetles and storage moths change their breathing patterns and metabolism to survive in low oxygen levels and high concentrations of fumigants.
Fumigants such as phosphine and methyl bromide are widely used but some beetles have developed resistance to phosphine. Alternative to fumigants include "controlled atmospheres", using either low oxygen or high carbon dioxide. These treatments are non-chemical and leave no residues, but they're not cost-competitive, as they take up to 28 days to kill insects and require a high level of atmosphere control.
Dr Haritos's insect respiration research is being funded by Australian grain handling and marketing companies, with another two years to go on the project.
CSIRO Media Release, 17/8/04.
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