JOURNAL OF STORED PRODUCTS RESEARCH, vol.33, no.2, pp.181-185, 1997 (SCI-Expanded)
In searching for alternatives to the very limited number of fumigants available to disinfest commodities, acetone vapours were found to be toxic to stored-product insects. Acetone is a metabolic product in living organisms from plants and higher animals, including insects. This apparently environmentally benign compound achieved 100% mortality with a dose of 123 mu l acetone/l air in 1-3 days for Tribolium confusum du Val adults and eggs, and Ephestia kuehniella Zeller larvae and eggs. However a lower dose, 61.5 mu l acetone/l air achieved 99% mortality in 3-6 days, in these life stages except for the larvae of E. kuehniella. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.