Studies on the efficacy of methyl iodide against forest insect pests
Studies on alternative fumigants to methyl bromide are being carried out in Japan. The efficacy of methyl iodide was tested for several forest insect pests: Callidiellum rufipenne (EPPO Alert List), Monochamus alternatus (EPPO A1 list), Semanotus japonicus, Cryphalus fulvus, Ips subelongatus (EU Annexes), Xyleborus pfeili, Pissodes nitidus, Shirahoshizo rufescens. Various stages of these species (under bark, in xylem or in artificial diet) were fumigated with methyl iodide at doses of 5, 10 , 15 , 30 and 50 g m-3 for 24 hours at 15°C. All eggs of C. rufipenne, S. japonicus, C. fulvus, X. pfeili, P. nitidus were killed at 10 g m-3. 100 % mortality for larval and pupal stages under bark and in xylem (or in artificial diet) was obtained at 30 g m-3, except for C. rufipenne, M. alternatus and S. rufescens. At 50 g m-3, all stages of the tested species were killed, except C. rufipenne larvae in xylem (95.5 % mortality). It was concluded that although further experiments are needed, methyl iodide appears as a promising tool to eliminate pests in imported wood.
Sources
Naito, H.; Goto, M.; Ogawa, N.; Soma, Y.; Kawakami, F. (2003) Effects of methyl iodide on mortality of forest insect pests.
Research Bulletin of the Plant Protection Service, Japan, no. 39, 1-6.