FORMALIN TREATMENT OF PUPAE OF COPRIS-HISPANUS L (COLEOPTERA, SCARABAEIDAE) AS A BASIS FOR RELEASE FROM QUARANTINE

The effects of dipping Copris hispanus pupae in reverse osmosis (RO) w ater, 1% formaldehyde (about 3% formalin), 1% formaldehyde + 1% Tego 5 1((R)) detergent mixture, and 1% glutaraldehyde (Wavicide((R))), each for 3 min, followed by serial rinsing in RO water were investigated as a basis for the release of insects from quarantine. Of the pupae dipp ed in water, 70.8% survived to be fully pigmented adult beetles as opp osed to 62.5% of those dipped in 1% formaldehyde. All pupae dipped in either 1% glutaraldehyde, or 1% formaldehyde + 1% Tego 51((R)) deterge nt mixture failed to eclose. Survival of pupae dipped in water or 1% f ormaldehyde appears to be greater in those pupae dipped after having c ompleted more than about 50% of their development. There was no eviden ce of delayed mortality associated with dipping in 1% formaldehyde, al though time to eclosion was reduced and the frequency of deformed beet les was higher. Severely deformed beetles only survived for a few days after eclosion.