Vapour heat treatment against Maconellicoccus hirsutus
The following vapour heat treatments were tested against Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae – EPPO A1 list): 47 °C for 5 to 50 min (in 5 minutes increments), and 49 °C for 3, 5, 8, 10 and 12 min. All tests were conducted using a computer-controlled vapour heat treatment chamber specifically designed for research (RH 95-100 %). Populations of mixed ages of M. hirsutus placed on pods of Chinese peas (Pisum sativum) were used in this experiment. Results showed that it took 45 minutes to kill all stages of M. hirsutus at 47 °C, whereas it took 10 minutes at 49 °C. Further large-scale studies are needed to validate the efficacy of vapour heat treatments against M. hirsutus on specific commodities.
Sources
Follett PA (2004) Generic vapor heat treatments to control Maconellicoccus hirsutus (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae).
Journal of Economic Entomology, 97(4), 1263-1268.