ifoam'96 ifoam'96
Book of Abstracts
11th IFOAM Scientific Conference
11-15 August 1996, Copenhagen, Denmark
EcoWeb Denmark
ECOWEB
FRONT PAGE
SUBJECT INDEX
AUTHOR INDEX

Posters

Pest Control in Organically Produced Cereals. P3; 54

Nielsen, P. S.

Danish Pest Infestation Laboratory, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Skovbrynet 14, DK-2800 Lyngby.

The purpose of this project (progressing from 1993-1996) is to identify the specific insect pest problems related to processing, storing and marketing of organically produced cereals, and to test different organically acceptable prevention and control met hods.
The primary pest in this area is the Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestiakuehniella), which causes serious problems in flour mills. Eggs and small larvae are transported with the flour, subsequently causing problems in some shops. In storage rooms and shops the Indian meal moth (Plodiainterpunctella) is also a serious pest species, although it prefers nuts and almonds to cereal products.
All mills have problems with Mediterranean flour moth and probably around one third of the shops have frequent problems with one or two of these moths. A superior tool in monitoring the moth population is pheromone traps, which yield information on how se rious the attack is.
A diatomaceous earth formulation has been evaluated for use against the larvae of the Mediterranean flour moth. In concentrations around 0.5% and under dry conditions it can be used as a structural treatment to reduce the moth population hiding in cracks and crevices.
The use of CO2 under pressure in the area of 0-15 bars is being tested as a potential method of controlling pests in infested goods. The investigations will be carried out in an experimental tank of 175 l. The main objective of the investigations is to establish the connection between mortality, pressure level and treatment time. In a couple of years high value goods will probably be treated in this way in order to eradicate pests.
A predatory mite is under investigation in order to evaluate its potential for commercial use as a biological control agent of the Mediterranean flourmoth. The main objective is to investigate the optimum conditions for along-term storage of this mite.