THE LESSER MEALWORM, ALPHITOBIUS-DIAPERINUS - FIELD TRIALS FOR CONTROL IN A BROILER HOUSE WITH INSECT GROWTH-REGULATORS AND PYRETHROIDS

Two trials were conducted under field conditions for control of the le sser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), in a broiler growout h ouse. Larvae were controlled with treatments applied after litter clea nout and either before the addition of new litter or to the surface of new litter. Three benzoylurea insect growth regulators (IGRs) and two pyrethroids provided 95%-100% control of larvae through a 42 d grow-o ut period. The IGRs hexafluron, triflumuron, and UC84572 were equally as effective in controlling larvae as the two pyrethroids, cyfluthrin and permethrin. The pyrethroids greatly reduced the adult beetle popul ation within 7 d posttreatment and held the population at low levels t hrough the 42 d study; control of adults with the IGRs was not compara ble. Numbers of adults were lower in most IGR treatments but in genera l not significantly different than untreated controls. Adult migration from untreated areas could have influenced these results.