Thirty-two different mineral salts were added individually to a diet of whole wheat flour to investigate their effects on population numbers, times of development and longevity of the Mediterranean flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller). The effect upon the time of development varied from inhibitory to no effect to very stimulatory. All tested salts inhibited the egg-laying in P and F1 generations but egg laying completely stopped only with all the concentrations of sodium nitrate, NaNO3 in the diet of the P generation. No single anion or cation was found which would strongly affect this stored-product insect. The effect of each salt at each concentration was found to be different.
Author notes
1The research was supported in part by PL-480 research project PL-ARS-76, M. Sklodowska - Curie Grant (FG-PO-360) (JB-28). This paper reports the results of research only. Mention of a pesticide in this paper does not constitute a recommendation for use by the USDA nor does it imply registration under FIFRA as amended. Also mention of a commercial/proprietary product in this paper does not constitute an endorsement of this product by the USDA.
2Professor and Research Associate, respectively, Department of Applied Entomology, Agricultural University of Warsaw, Nowoursynowska 166, Poland.
3Supervisory Research Entomologist, Stored-Product Insects Research and Development Laboratory, USDA/ARS, P.O. Box 22909, Savannah, GA 31403.