THE EFFECT OF BEHAVIOR ON THE SURVIVAL OF CRYPTOLESTES-FERRUGINEUS INAN INSECTICIDE-TREATED LABORATORY ENVIRONMENT

The effect of refuge-seeking behaviour on the survival of two insectic ide resistant (malathion-specific) and two susceptible strains of Cryp tolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) in laboratory arenas treated with inse cticide was determined. Insect mortalities were reduced significantly when artificial refuges were present in arenas treated with either fen itrothion or malathion. The strain exhibiting the highest degree of re fuge-seeking behaviour also had the highest survival rates in treated arenas. In arenas treated with fenitrothion, refuge-seeking behaviour increased at a high dose (250 mg/m(2)) compared to a lower dose (2 mg/ m(2)). More beetles were found in refuges on arenas treated with fenit rothion than in refuges on untreated arenas; however, no such differen ce was observed in malathion-treated arenas. fenitrothion-treated aren as, most beetles died in the refuges but when arenas were treated with malathion, more beetles died in the arenas than in the refuges. The i mplications of these results for pest control are examined. (C) 1997 E lsevier Science Ltd.