[Biological efficacy and persistence of biphenthrin sprayed on maize at different grain temperatures]

The objective of this work was to evaluate the immediate and latent effects of the grain temperature, during the spraying process, on the persistence and biological efficacy of the biphenthrin insecticide against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). For such, biphenthrin was sprayed on the grain at the temperatures: 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 degrees C. To access the persistence of biphenthrin, insecticide residue analyses were carried out monthly, just after spraying until 90 days of storage. To evaluate the biological efficacy of biphenthrin, 20 adults of each species were placed in petri dishes with sprayed grain, and kept in climate cabinets under 27 degrees C and 55% of RH, during 48h. Evaluations were done every 15 days, starting just after spraying and finishing at 90 days of storage. Both persistence and biological efficacy of biphenthrin reduced as storage time and grain temperatures increased. Additionally, S. zeamais was more tolerant to biphenthrin than T. castaneum.