Combined effect of nitrogen mixed with ozone on the mortality of stored‐grain insects

A study was conducted to determine the effect of nitrogen mixed with ozoneon controlling stored ‐grain insects in the storehouse. Adults of Sitophilusoryzae (L.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Oryzephilus surinamensis ºC and 65 ±5% r. h. Experiments were performed at different heights(10, 20, 40 and 50 cm) and nutrition materials (date, wheat and rice), inpenetration tests and empty ‐space tests. In empty‐space trials, the highestmortality was for P. interpunctella. In penetration tests, treatment with highpressurenitrogen and ozone under different height and foodstuff resulted indifferent rates of mortality. The mixture of nitrogen and ozone in the interactionbetween height and diet (heigh×diet) were not significant for all theinsects, but the mortality was significant at different height for R. dominicaand O. surinamensis. The influence of nitrogen and ozone in the date wasmore than in rice and wheat. The present findings allow us to suggest thatthe mixture of nitrogen and ozone can be used as suitable fumigant to alternatephosphine and methyl bromide under ambient storage conditions inpenetration and empty ‐space fumigations.(L.) and 3th larvae of Plodia interpunctella (Hubner)were exposed the mixture of nitrogen and ozone. After exposure period of24 h, the insects were transferred to clean jars containing food and held at27±2