Álcool para controle de cascudinho em cama de frangos de corte

Abstract

Brazil is the third largest producer of chicken meat in the world, resulting in the production of a large amount of waste called chicken litter. This residue generates favorable conditions for the development of the beetle Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), known as cascudinho, which is considered the main pest of poultry farming, affecting poultry production worldwide. Its control is considered difficult, and pyrethroid and organophosphorous substances are commonly used, although they are not efficient. In the search for alternative insect control, several natural insecticidal and insecticidal methods have been tested. However, in the entomological practice, substances with high vapor pressure in order to produce toxic gases are used for insect fixation. Thus, in October 2015, ethyl alcohol PA was tested with the aim of controlling A. diaperinus in chicken litter. The experimental units were represented by cut plastic pet bottles, where 100 g of were poultry litter added, with 20 adult insects and 135 larvae each. The treatments were constituted by the application of alcohol in the volume of 1, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mL and its with dilution water (1:1) with equal volume applied. Two environments were simulated, one open (screens to contain the insects) and one closed (sample container closed with the portion previously cut). The plots were maintained at 28.5 ± 2° C and 51.0 ± 2% of relative humidity, with six replicates per treatment. The amount of 2.5 mL (2.5% v/p) alcohol generated 100% mortality in adults and larvae in the closed samples, requiring twice the volume in the open system. For the alcohol-water dilution (1:1) the 100% control was obtained with twice the amount reported previously in relation to the respective treatments.