Effectiveness of allyl acetate as a fumigant against five stored grain beetle pests

Five esters, butyl acetate, allyl acetate, ethyl acetoacetate, isopropyl acetate and propyl acetate, were screened as fumigants in the laboratory for 24 h at 27 (+/-2) degrees C against the adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F), Sitophilus oryzae (L) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Of the compounds tested, allyl acetate was the most toxic, with LD(99) values of 7.56, 12.81 and 11.42 mg litre(-1) against R dominica, S oryzae and T castaneum, respectively. Tests with allyl acetate against mixed-age cultures of Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L), R dominica, S oryzae and T castaneum revealed that doses of 50-150 mg litre(-1) with 24-120-h exposures were necessary to achieve 100% mortality of all life stages. Cryptolestes ferrugineus was the most tolerant insect tested, whilst R dominica was highly susceptible. The insect toxicity data indicates that allyl acetate has potential as a fumigant of stored food grains.