Observations on the Activity of Insect Pests inside and outside two Flour Mills

摘要

Two Italian mills were selected for fumigation with sulfuryl fluoride or methyl bromide. The impact of fumigations upon populations of flour beetles and moths was evaluated. Traps baited with aggregation pheromone lure and an oil-based food attractant were used to monitor populations of flour beetles. Sticky traps baited with a pheromone lure were used to monitor the Mediterranean Flour Moth and the Indian Meal Moth. Traps were placed inside the mill buildings, within the areas selected for fu-migation, and outside. The purpose of monitoring outside the mill buildings was to detect possible sources of reinfestation. After fumigation, several stored product insects were detected in traps placed outside the mill buildings. The results showed that sulfuryl fluoride performed similarly to methyl bromide and was therefore a suitable alternative to control stored product pests in Italian mills. The re -infestation of mills could be directly attributed to undetected foci of infestation outside the fumigated area or to infes-ted products brought into the mill.