Development, reproduction, and control of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), in stored seed garlic in Mexico

Developmental time, fecundity, and egg hatch rate were determined for the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), reared on fresh garlic seed at room temperature in Mexico. Duration of the egg stage averaged 4.7±0.8 days with an egg hatch rate ranging from 82% to 95%. Five larval instars were determined based on head-capsule width. Total larval developmental time from egg hatch to adult emergence ranged from 42 to 47 days. Adult females began to oviposit within 12-48 h after mating with the maximum oviposition rate occurring during the first 24 h after mating. The mean (±SE) number of eggs laid by females was 212±34 with a range of 117-303. Application of pirimiphos-methyl, malathion, and permethrin to 30 kg lots of garlic seed failed to prevent infestation and bulb damage by the larvae. However, compared with controls, the percentage of damaged bulbs and the number of larvae detected during 12 weeks of storage was smaller on garlic treated with four doses of pirimiphos-methyl.     

Effects of delayed mating on reproductive performance of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Virgin male and female Indianmeal moths, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), were mated soon after emergence or delayed from mating for 1-5 d, to determine the effect of age at mating on the number of spermatophores transferred by males to females, number of eggs laid (fecundity), egg viability, and adult longevity. When male and female moths were mated without delay, all females mated successfully. On average, each mated female had 2.2 spermatophores and laid 161 eggs. About 99% of the eggs laid were viable. Fecundity and egg viability were significantly and positively correlated with the number of spermatophores/female. For each day that mating of virgin male or female P. interpunctella was delayed, fecundity decreased by about 25 eggs. Egg viability decreased by 22%/d only when females were delayed from mating. Males delayed from mating for 5 d were unable to inseminate females. However, about 23% of females had one spermatophore when females or both males and females were delayed from mating for 5 d. On average, 22-39 non-viable eggs were laid by a female in treatments where male or female moths were delayed from mating for 5 d. Similarly, unmated (virgin) females laid 33 non-viable eggs. These results suggest that methods that can delay and disrupt mating may be effective behavioral strategies for managing this important pest of stored commodities and processed foods.     

A simple wheat germ diet for studying the nutrient requirements of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner)

Indian meal moth infestation of processed cereal products during storage could be managed with little or no use of conventional pesticides if there was a greater recognition and use of the moth's innate vulnerabilities. Slowing the growth rate of the infesting larvae is a simple strategy that can decrease the amount of damage and decrease the frequency of pesticide intervention. The growth rates of Indian meal moths on different cereal products varies widely indicating product-related differences in nutrient availability for the insects. Nutrient availability depends upon both the amounts of nutrients available in the cereal product and upon physical characteristics of the product that restrict the assimilation of nutrients.

The development of control strategies for protecting processed cereal products based upon nutrient availability requires a simple, palatable test diet of known composition. Wheat germ mixed with 30% glycerol (w/w) provides a suitable growth medium for the Indian meal moth whose nutrients have been largely identified and quantified. Our studies indicate that dietary glycerol augments Indian meal moth growth and development on wheat germ by moisturizing the diet and probably provides a source of carbon and energy for larval growth.     

Mating disruption for control of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in dried beans

We compared the impact of mating disruption and aerosol space treatment using synergized pyrethrins on Indianmeal moth Plodia interpunctella in 2200-2900 m³ structures at a dried bean storage and processing facility in Stanislaus County, CA USA. Mating disruption was applied using a high-volume aerosol timed release dispenser to apply 1.9 mg/d/100 m³ (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecyldienyl acetate (Z9,E12-14:Ac). Biological effects of mating disruption were compared between areas treated with mating disruption, aerosol space treatments, and an untreated part of the facility. The ability of males to orient to a pheromone source, to mate with calling females, and the fertility of resident females was examined using pheromone traps, sentinel females, and oviposition bait cups, respectively. Compared to an untreated area, males in pheromone traps and female mating were greatly reduced in both the aerosol space treatment and mating disruption treatment areas. After the second week of the study, P. interpunctella progeny were recovered from the untreated area and the aerosol space treatment area but not the mating disruption area, despite an active infestation in this area at the start of the study. An experiment examining development on the dried beans stored at this facility found variable development on broken beans, but generally poor development in intact beans. We conclude that the mating disruption treatment was as effective as the space treatment in suppressing population growth under the conditions at this facility, and discuss the potential for mating disruption using high-volume aerosol timed dispensers for phycitine moths in stored products.     

Release-recapture estimates of the population density of Ephestia cautella (Walker) in a commercial peanut warehouse

Seasonal trends in adult Ephestia (= Cadra) cautella (Walker) population density in an in-shell peanut storage facility were estimated from suction trap catches adjusted for recapture rates. Recapture rates the 1st day after release were 7% of females and 20% of males in an unstocked warehouse and 31% of males in a stocked warehouse; total recoveries were 11, 32 and 50%, respectively. Mating frequencies were generally between 46 and 75%. However, low mating frequencies (21–35%) during periods of low population density could have been partially due to the trapping of males.

Every 4 weeks the E. cautella population increased roughly two-fold in the unstocked ware-house (scattered peanuts remaining) and 37-fold in the stocked warehouse. Since breeding was continuous, generations overlapped.     

Inherited sterility in Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae): Effect of gamma radiation on insect fecundity, fertility and developmental period

The effects of gamma radiation on the fecundity, fertility, longevity, development and level of inherited sterility in the Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella were determined. Newly emerged virgin Mediterranean flour moth adults were irradiated with 100, 200, 400 and 600 Gy in a ⁶⁰Co irradiator with a source strength of ca. 3811 Ci and a dose rate of ca. 1 Gy/min. Laboratory studies revealed that radiation did not effect the longevity of irradiated male and female adults. Inherited deleterious effects of gamma radiation were observed in the F₁ and F₂ generations. Fecundity and the daily egg laying pattern of irradiated and unirradiated females mated to irradiated males was not significantly different from untreated controls. Adverse effects of gamma radiation were observed in the percentage egg hatch and rate of development. Levels of sterility in the P₁, F₁ and F₂ generations were higher than that of untreated controls. The doses of radiation also had a significant effect on the time from oviposition to larval eclosion or adult emergence. Mortality increased with radiation dose. The incidence of larval and pupal mortality was higher in the F₂ than in the F₁ generation.     

Effects of gamma radiation on the Mediterranean flour moth,Ephestia kuehniella Zeller,mature larvae and acceptability of irradiated larvae by Bracon hebetor say females

Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, mature 5th instars were exposed to gamma radiation dosages ranging from 50 to 350 Gy at 50 Gy increments and the effects on pupation, adult emergence and sex ratio were investigated. In addition, effects of irradiation on the rate of development to pupae and adults and the acceptance of irradiated larvae by Bracon hebetor Say females were examined. Results showed that the radio-sensitivity of E. kuehniella larvae increased with increasing dose. Pupation was significantly affected at 100 Gy and completely prevented at 350 Gy. Adult emergence was only slightly different from pupation; emergence was significantly affected at 100 Gy and completely prevented at 300 Gy. Irradiation also negatively affected the rate of development of larvae to pupae and adults. In addition, irradiation significantly affected male: female ratio; sex ratio was skewed in favour of males, and at 250 Gy all emerged moths were males. Furthermore, irradiation had no adverse effect on the degree of acceptance of mature larvae to parasitization; irradiated insects were as acceptable to B. hebetor females as nonirradiated ones.     

Stored-product insects in botanical warehouses

Insect pests infesting six stored botanicals were sampled monthly in two Egyptian warehouses over 12 months. The plants sampled were; roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), mogat (Glossostemon bruguieri), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), anise (Pimpinella anisum), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and marjoram (Origanum majorana). The warehouses were located in northern Egypt in Mansoura and Bilqas. Lasioderma serricorne and Stegobium paniceum were the most common insect pests in warehouses. The beetles Tribolium castaneum, Tribolium confusum, Trogoderma granarium and Cryptolestes ferrugineus had lower and similar levels of infestation. The moths, Plodia interpunctella and Sitotroga cerealella, had the lowest infestation levels. There were small differences in infestation by the most common insects, L. serricorne and S. paniceum, among the six botanicals. In general, M. chamomilla and O. majorana had the lowest level of infestation. The other plants, H. sabdariffa and C. sativum had higher levels of infestation. The warehouse in Bilqas had higher populations than the warehouse in Mansoura. In Bilqas, the temperature and relative humidity were slightly higher and the warehouse was older and had open windows, factors that may have contributed to higher insect infestations.     

Life history studies of the yam moth, Dasyses rugosella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)

A life history study of the yam moth, Dasyses rugosella Stainton, was carried out in the laboratory at an ambient temperature of 28±2 °C and 75±5% relative humidity. Freshly emerged male and female adults were paired in glass vials and average fecundity determined. Eggs were incubated in Petri dishes lined with filter paper underneath which was moistened cotton wool. Hatchability and incubation period were noted. Freshly emerged first instar larvae were then reared on small Dioscorea alata L. tubers in plastic containers until adult emergence.The average fecundity per female D. rugosella was 107.4±9.9 eggs at an average oviposition period of 3.8±0.2 days. Most of the eggs were laid on the second day of oviposition. The eggs, which were laid singly, in groups and in chains, were elliptical in shape and measured 0.80±0.01 mm long and 0.42±0.01 mm wide. Hatchability was 66.7%. The mean incubation period was 5.1±0.2 days. Dasyses rugosella passed through six larval instars. The mature larva was eruciform with a large uniformly sclerotised head. The pupa was obtect, adecticous and highly sclerotised with a stout profile. The mean larval and pupal developmental periods were 44.5±1.8 and 11.9±0.2 days, respectively. The mean total developmental time from egg to adult was 61.6±3.7 days (range 53-75 days). The females were always bigger than the males. The wing span measurement of the female ranged from 18.0-18.5 mm, while that of the male ranged from 13.0-14.0 mm. The body length of the female ranged from 7.8-8.5 mm while that of the male ranged from 5.3-6.8 mm. The unmated males lived longer (8.5 days) than unmated females (7.1 days), mated males (3.8 days) and mated females (4.1 days).The maximum daily mean progeny production was 25.7 on the 63rd day of pivotal age. The innate capacity for increased r_c was 0.06 per female per day. The cohort generation time T_c was 63.0 days and the finite rate of increase h_c was 1.06. The net reproductive rate R_o was 52.9.     

Effects of spinosad and spinetoram on larval mortality,adult emergence,progeny production and mating in Cadra cautella (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The bacterial formulations, spinosad and spinetoram, were evaluated for their efficacy in suppressing development and mating success in Cadra cautella (Walk.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), the almond moth. A dilution series of spinosad and spinetoram was sprayed on rice flour. Rice flour samples sprayed with water served as the control. Late instar C. cautella larvae were introduced onto spinosad-, spinetoram-, or water-treated rice flour. The first experiment tested the effects of spinosad and spinetoram on larval mortality, as well as emergence of adults and progeny at different insecticide concentrations. In the second experiment, the mating success of C. cautella adults that had emerged from larvae exposed to spinosad was tested inside a cubicle. Both spinosad and spinetoram increased larval mortality, whereas both compounds reduced adult emergence and progeny production. Natural mating was reduced in the presence of the synthetic sex pheromone (Z,E)-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate. However, exposure of C. cautella larvae to spinosad did not alter mating in adult progeny. Spinosad was more effective than spinetoram at suppressing C. cautella development. The study concludes that both spinosad and spinetoram suppress the development of immatures of C. cautella to the adult stage as well as mating. Thus, the both compounds can be used to protect stored grains from infestation by C. cautella.     

Gamma radiation effects on mating frequency and delayed mating of male Cadra cautella (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

Gamma radiation doses of 0, 10, or 20 krad to 8-day-old pupae of Cadra cautella (Walker) did not significantly affect (P<0.05) the mating frequency of male moths kept constantly with female moths (1♂:5♀ per vial) for 72 hr but there were fewer matings by males exposed to 30 krad. When the opportunity of mating was restricted to 24 hr and delayed for 1–7 days, the mating frequency, and the numbers and fertility of eggs laid by young females all progressively declined with age. Increasing the radiation dose accentuated the reduction in male reproductive potential. Range of male longevity was not so critical as the period of significant male mating activity. Males in constant association with excess females had significantly lower (P < 0.01) mean longevity (4.25 ± 1.11 days) than did unmated and mated males (7.75 ± 1.99 days) in the delayed-mating studies; that was related to the increased mating frequency (maximum 8 ×) in the free-choice situation.     

Effect of temperature on the development of the yam moth, Dasyses rugosella Stainton (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)

Studies on the effect of temperature on the development of the yam moth, Dasyses rugosella Stainton were carried out in the laboratory at four different temperatures, 20°C, 24°C, 29°C and 33°C. The mean fecundity per female at 20°C, 24°C, 29°C and 33°C was 37.6±1.9, 84.2±2.7, 112.3±3.9 and 109.3±3.9 eggs, respectively. Oviposition period ranged from 4.7 days at 20°C to 2.9 days at 33°C. Hatchability of eggs was highest at 29°C with 70.0% and lowest at 20°C with 15.0%. The developmental time decreased with increase in temperature. The mean developmental time at 20°C, 24°C, 29°C and 33°C was 13.8±0.3, 7.8±0.2, 5.1±0.2 and 3.9±0.2 days for the egg, 90.0±0.7, 50.1±0.7, 36.1±0.8 and 23.6±0.8 days for the larval stages, 22.3±2.6, 12.2±0.2, 10.1±0.1, and 7.8±0.2 days for the pupa and 126.1±0.8, 70.1±0.8, 51.3±0.9, and 35.1±0.8 days for the period from egg hatching to adult emergence, respectively. Since fecundity, oviposition and development of the moth were impaired at 20°C, storage of yam tubers at low temperatures (well below 20°C but not lower than 12°C to avoid chilling injury) will significantly retard the development of D. rugosella and help in its control. Unmated individuals lived longer than their mated counterparts. Adult females were always larger than the males. The wing span of the female ranges from 16.9-18.5 and in males from 13.0-15.0 mm. The body length for males ranged from 5.0-6.5 and was 6.5-9.0 mm for females.     

Effect of high-temperature pre-irradiation on reproduction and mating competitiveness of male Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) and their F1 progeny

Pupae of the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier) were irradiated with substerilizing doses of 150, 180 and 210 Gy of gamma radiation. Inherited deleterious effects due to irradiation of P males irradiated as pupae were recorded for F₁ progeny. The radiation damage increased when pupae were kept at high temperature (32.5 °C) for 24 h before irradiation, where a marked reduction in fecundity and egg hatch was obtained among P males and their F₁ progeny. This reduction was significantly increased by increasing the dosage. F₁ progeny were more sterile than the irradiated parent generation, though F₁ males were more sterile than F₁ females. Also, the combination of high temperature and irradiation applied to parental male pupae decreased larval survival and percentage of F₁ female progeny, whereas it did not affect the mating frequency among P males and F₁ progeny at the tested doses. Laboratory mating competitiveness indicated that parental males heat-treated with 32.5 °C and irradiated with 150, 180 and 210 Gy and their F₁ progeny were fully competitive with their untreated siblings.     

Studies on insect infestation in chocolates

The ability of stored-product pests including the cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, the sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, the rust-red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, and the almond moth, Ephestia cautella, to infest chocolates under packaged and unpackaged conditions was investigated in the laboratory at 25±1 °C and 65±5% r.h. Four types of chocolates were investigated: milk, nut, dried fruit and nut, and wafer chocolates. Adults (beetles only, 20 per replicate) or eggs (30 per replicate) were released on unpackaged and packaged chocolates and infestation levels (number of living adults and larvae) were determined 45 days later. When adult beetles were released on unpackaged chocolates, the degree of infestation varied depending on the species and the type of chocolate. The highest infestation observed in unpackaged chocolate was that of O. surinamensis in wafer chocolate (mean 138.4). When eggs were released on unpackaged chocolates, the most numerous species was E. cautella in dried fruit and nut chocolate (mean population=180.8). With packaged chocolates exposed to adults or eggs, insect infestation was nil or negligible (mean population <6.0). Although infestation levels were low, infestations were found in 50% of treatments over all. Damage to the packaging material along the folds or edges was observed in infested chocolates. The study has shown that milk, nut, dried fruit and nut, and wafer chocolates can support insect infestation and therefore, insect-proof packing of the chocolates and storage under hygienic conditions are important to avoid customers’ complaints.     

The effect of mating on the sex pheromone system of the yellow mealworm beetle,Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

The mating behavior of the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor L.) is mediated by several pheromones, including a female-produced male attractant, (R)-(+)-4-methylnonanol (4-MNol); a male-produced female attractant, (Z)-3-dodecenyl acetate; a male-produced anti-aphrodisiac; and at least one copulation pheromone. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of mating on this complicated pheromone system. Glass rod bioassays were conducted to determine the response of virgin adult male beetles to the surface extracts of adult female beetles, prepared from virgin females, females allowed to mate once (extracted 0, 0.5, 1 or 2 h after mating), and females allowed to mate over an extended period of time (0, 1, or 21 h). Mating caused an immediate but temporary inhibition of the ability of the female extracts (FEs) to attract the males. This wore off relatively quickly, since FEs prepared 0.5–1 h after mating were as attractive as the virgin FE. Two hours after mating a second inhibition of attraction was observed, which was likely due to a drop in the titer of 4-MNol. Gas chromatographic analyses confirmed that the level of 4-MNol dropped after mating, from ∼40 ng per virgin female to below our levels of detection in mated females. A single mating event, or the 1 h extended mating, did not significantly affect the ability of the FEs to elicit copulation behavior (CB) from the males. However, FEs prepared after an extended mating (21 h) were significantly less able to attract males and to elicit CB. This is the first in depth study of the effect of a single and extended mating on sex pheromone production by a coleopteran species. In the long term, a greater understanding of the regulation of pheromone production could be useful for the manipulation of pest populations.     

Effect of mating disruption and lure load on the number of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) males captured in pheromone traps

A series of experiments examined the potential for using pheromone lures to monitor Indianmeal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), in the presence of mating disruption. When males were released in either the presence or absence of commercial mating disruption dispensers, the number of males captured in traps baited with synthetic pheromone lures increased with doses of 1–30 mg per lure (compared to 1–2 mg used in commercial monitoring lures). More males were captured in traps baited with synthetic pheromone lures than in traps baited with females as a pheromone source. The proportion of males captured in traps baited with synthetic pheromone lures vs. traps with females as a pheromone source changed with male age, but not with exposure to mating disruption dispensers. Male interaction with mating disruption dispensers was observed, and suppression of male capture in female-baited traps was quickly lost when mating disruption dispensers were removed. Implications of these findings for monitoring and semiochemical control of P. interpunctella are discussed.     

Mating disruption of Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in a storage facility: Spatio-temporal distribution changed after long-term application

In the present study, we evaluated the application of mating disruption (MD) for stored-product Pyralidae in a large storage facility of amylaceous products in central Greece. Dispensers were placed in late 2010 until fall 2015, and the stored-product Pyralidae populations were monitored by using pheromone-baited sticky traps and Petri dishes containing semolina were used as oviposition traps. The infesting species that was found was the Mediterranean flour moth, E. kuehniella (Zeller). After the application of MD, the numbers of adult males found on the pheromone-baited traps were reduced in the MD-treated facility, as compared with the untreated (UTC), no MD, facility. Similarly, the numbers of larvae in the oviposition traps were also reduced, as compared with the UTC facility. During the successive years of MD deployment, there was a noticeable decrease in the number of Ephestia kuehniella male adults in the MD-treated facility, but the high density areas, and the infestation foci, were different among years. Hence, in 2014, the majority of the male adults were found at the areas where some years earlier, during the beginning of MD, there were no individuals, or their numbers were low. This suggests that, despite the effectiveness of the method, may be a spatial displacement to other areas. This fact could eventually alter the monitoring protocol, as new infestation foci may occur.     

Hemp (Cannabis sativa) seed for reproduction of stored-product insects

Hemp, or industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa), is a high value alternative crop that has seen increases in production in Canada since commercial production was legalized in 1998. Insect infestation of stored hemp seed may result in loss of quality and value. There are few published studies on the ability of insects to survive and reproduce on hemp seed. Reproduction of eleven stored-product insects on hemp seed at different moisture contents with, or without dockage, was studied. Insects were introduced into 15 g of hemp seed at two initial moisture contents (dry, 9% m.c. or damp, 15% m.c.), two dockage levels (dockage-free or dockage, 15%), and held at 30°C and 60–70% r.h. Five replicates of each treatment for each species were used. For beetles, twenty unsexed adults were used, for Ephestia kuehniella (Mediterranean flour moth), twenty eggs were used. For the beetles, live and dead adults were counted after 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks, for the moth, adults were counted after 12.5 weeks. After counting, only live adults were returned to the hemp seed. The following beetle populations increased over the 9 weeks; Tribolium castaneum (red flour beetle), Lasioderma serricorne (cigarette beetle), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (sawtoothed grain beetle) and Trogoderma variabile (warehouse beetle). The following species did not increase their populations; Cryptolestes ferrugineus (rusty grain beetle), Rhyzopertha dominica (lesser grain borer), Sitophilus oryzae (rice weevil), Cryptolestes turcicus (flour mill beetle), Tribolium confusum (confused flour beetle), and Stegobium paniceum (drugstore beetle). For the beetles, higher dockage generally led to higher populations. The effect of moisture content was variable. Ephestia kuehniella produced adults on all treatments, with the dry treatment containing dockage performing the best.     

The impact of grain quantity on the biology of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): oviposition, distribution of eggs, adult emergence, body weight and sex ratio

Studies were conducted to observe the effect of grain quantity on the oviposition, distribution of eggs, adult emergence, adult body weight and sex ratio of Sitophilus zeamais, an important pest of maize. Three quantities of maize grains (200, 400 and 800 grains/glass jar of 1 l) were used under laboratory conditions (30°C and 70% r.h.). Twenty five male/female pairs of maize weevil were introduced into each glass jar for 12 d. The greatest and lowest number of eggs was laid on batches of 800 and 200 grain kernels, respectively. The total number of grains attacked followed a similar trend. The aggregation of eggs expressed as a ratio of the variance to mean increased as the amount of maize grains was increased. The aggregation parameter k ranged from 2.35 on 200 grains to 4.49 on 800 grains. On average, a significantly higher proportion of grains were infested (90%) when less grain was present. Emergence of adult weevils was, however, maximal (472 individuals/glass jar) when the grain quantity was highest. The mean weight of the emerged adults was not significantly influenced by grain quantity, but female weevils were heavier than males (mean weight 3.16 vs. 3.05 mg) irrespective of maize quantity and eggs laid. Sex ratio (males/100 females) of emerged adults did not differ among treatments. The importance of grain quantity, and of oviposition, in internally feeding granivores and the possibility that there is an adaptive reproductive strategy are discussed.     

农用不育剂防治烟青虫的研究

不育治虫也称遗传防治,是害虫综合防治的一项崭新内容。当前,国内外成功的实例不多。本研究选出了烟青虫雄性不育剂和雌性不育剂,将其与烟青虫性诱剂结合,制成小型不育引诱器,每亩烟田插置一个,即可诱使田间烟青虫成虫吮食不育剂,食后即成为不育蛾。不育蛾仍可与正常蛾交配,不但使交配对象成为不育,还可使已正常交配的成虫成为不育。从而降低田间的虫量,减少为害。田间试验结果表明,对烟青虫的防治效果达90％以上。使用不育剂可以减少田间农药用量和施药次数。本研究选出的不育剂对人畜无害,使用简便,价格较低,对环境无污染。