Skip to main content

Efficacy of modified diatomaceous earth on different cockroach species (Orthoptera, Blattellidae) and silverfish (Thysanura, Lepismatidae)

Journal of Pest Science volume 79, Article number: 155 (2006) Cite this article

Abstract

Defined populations of American (Periplaneta americana), German (Blattella germanica), and Oriental (Blatta orientalis) cockroaches, and silverfish (Lepisma saccharina) were observed after exposure to deposits (25 g/m2) of a new 1,1,1–trimethyl-N-trimethylsilane-modified, highly hydrophobic diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation by using a computer-aided device measuring motility, circadian rhythm, and mortality under defined environmental and climatic field-simulating and exposure-enforced conditions. In a humid climate (85% relative humidity) with water and food offered ad libitum, complete population eradication could be achieved on the sixth day against B. germanica, on the eighth day against P. americana, and on the ninth day against L. saccharina, respectively. No population eradication occurred within 10 days of exposure when testing B. orientalis, showing a mean survival rate of 29.4 ± 6.7 % of the populations. When comparing the species-specific mortality rates with the results obtained from corresponding reference control groups, significantly higher mortality rates could be observed in B. germanica (F = 66; df = 52; P < 0.00001), P. americana (F = 344; df =66; P < 0.00001), L. saccharina (F = 253; df = 24; P < 0.00001), and B. orientalis (F = 422; df = 11; P < 0.00001). Overall, the efficacy of the hydrophobised DE examined ranked as follows: B. germanica > P. americana (F = 51; df = 24; P < 0.00001) > L. saccharina (F = 43; df = 24; P < 0.00001) >> B. orientalis (F = 9; df = 15; P < 0.000001). DE exposure resulted in complete disruption of the circadian activity in B. germanica and P. americana, but not when tested against B. orientalis, where the species-specific circadian motility peak was still preserved at lower levels after 10 days of exposure. In contrast to the cockroach species examined, no specific circadian rhythm could be measured in the L. saccharina control and treatment groups. Results indicate that hydrophobised DE originating from freshwater diatoms modified with 1,1,1-trimethyl-N-trimethylsilane can be successfully used for the control of infestations with German and American cockroaches as well as silverfish, but not against Oriental cockroaches. It is concluded that species-specific morphological, physiological and behavioural characteristics of insects influencing DE efficacy as well as the toxicological risk of modified DE to humans deserve further investigation.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price includes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  • Anonymous (2000) Technische Richtlinie für Gefahrstoffe (TRGS) No. 900. Bundesarbeitsblatt 10/2000:34–63

  • Arthur F (2000) Toxicity of diatomaceous earths to red flour beetles and confused flour beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae): effects of temperature and relative humidity. J Econ Entomol 93:526–532

    PubMed  CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiu SF (1939) Toxicity studies of so-called “inert” materials with the rice weevil and the granary weevil. J Econ Entomol 32(6):810–821

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eastin JL, Burden GS (1960) Tests with five silica dusts against German cockroaches. Fla Entomol 43:99–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ebeling W (1971) Sorptive dusts for pest control. Annu Rev Entomol 16:123–158

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Eidmann H, Kuehlhorn F (1970) Lehrbuch der Entomologie. Verlag Paul Parey Hamburg, Berlin, pp 45–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Faulde M, Cavaljuga S, Scharninghausen J (2006) Toxic and behavioural effects of different modified diatomaceous earths on the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (Linneaus) (Orthoptera: Blattellidae) under simulated field conditions. J Stored Prod Res 42(3):253–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fields P (1998) Diatomaceous earth: advantages and limitations. In: Zuxun J, Quan L, Yongsheng L, Xianchang T, Lianghua G (eds) Proceedings of the seventh international working conference of stored products protection. Sichuan Publishing House of Science & Technology, Peoples Republic of China. I, pp 781–789

  • Fres JF (2005) Orientalische Schabe in Massen: Ausgangspunkt Landwirtschaft. Der praktische Schädlingsbekämpfer 57(9):6–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Fuchs MEA, Sann G (1981) Eine Versuchsanlage zur Verhaltensanalyse von Schabenpopulationen unter definierten Raumklimabedingungen. GIT Labor-Fachzeitschrift 25:622–629

    Google Scholar 

  • Lartigue E, Del C, Rossanigo CE (2004) Evaluacion insecticida y antihelmintica de la tierra de diatomea en bovinos. Vet Argent 21:660–674

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Patourel GNJ, Zhou JJ (1990) Action of amorphous silica dusts on the German cockroach Blattella germanica (Linneaus) (Orthoptera: Blattidae). Bull Entomol Res 80:11–17

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Le Patourel GNJ (1996) Forced contact and arena bioassays to assess the performance of a pyretroid WP deposit against oriental cockroaches. Proceedings of the 2nd international conference on insect pests in the urban environment. Edinburgh, UK, 7–10 July 1996, pp. 303–308

  • Merget R, Bauer T, Kupper HU, Phillippou S, Bauer HD, Breitstadt R, Bruening T (2002) Health hazards due to inhalation of amorphous silica. Arch Toxicol 75:625–634

    PubMed  Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mewis I, Reichmuth Ch (1998) Diatomaceous earths against the coleoptera: granary weevil Sitophilus granarius (Curculionidae), the confused flour beetle Tribolium confusum (Tenebrionidae), and the Mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Tenebrionidae). In: Zuxun J, Quan L, Yongsheng L, Xianchang T, Lianghua G (eds) Proceedings of the 7th international working conference of stored products protection. Sichuan Publishing House of Science & Technology, Peoples Republic of China. I, pp 765–780

  • Mewis I, Ulrichs Ch (1999) Wirkungsweise amorpher Diatomeenerden auf vorratsschädliche Insekten. Untersuchung der abrasiven und sorptiven Effekte. J Pestic Sci 72:113–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Polivka JB (1931) The effect of physiological changes in the corn plant on corn borer survival. J Econ Entomol 24:394–395

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Prasantha BDR (2003) Toxicological, biological and physiological effects of diatomaceous earths on the bean weevil Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) and the cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Academic dissertation, Berlin, pp. 1–157

    Google Scholar 

  • Quarles W (1992) Diatomaceous earth for pest control. The IPM Practitioner 14(5/6):1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith BC (1969) Effect of silica on the survival of Coleomegilla maculata lengi (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Lepinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Can Entom 101:460–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subramanyam B, Roesli R (2000) Inert dusts. In: Subramanyam B, Hagstrum DW (eds) Alternatives to pesticides in stored-product IPM. Kluwer, Dordrecht, pp. 321–380. ISBN 0–7923–7976–4

  • Swadener C (1995) Sane cockroach management, Part 2. J Pestic Ref 15:22–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarshis IB (1959) Sorptive dusts on cockroaches. Calif Agric 13:3–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomioka K, Salaheldin A (2004) Circadian organization in hemimetabolous insects. Zoolog Sci 21(12):1153–1162

    PubMed  Article  Google Scholar 

  • Webb JE (1945) The penetration of Derris through the spiracles and cuticle of Melophagus ovinus, L. Bull Entomol Res 36:15–22

    CAS  Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (1974) FAO/WHO joint expert committee on food additives. In: 17th meeting. world health organisation technical report series no. 539, pp 16–35. WHO, Geneva

  • Zacher F, Kunike G (1931) Untersuchungen über die insektizide Wirkung von Oxyden und Karbonaten. Arbeiten aus der Biologischen Reichsanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Berlin 18:201–231

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Entomology/Zoology, Central Institute of the Bundeswehr Medical Service, 7340, 7340, 56065, Koblenz, Germany

    M. K. Faulde

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Bundeswehr Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany

    M. Tisch

  3. College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA

    J. J. Scharninghausen

Authors
  1. M. K. Faulde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Tisch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. J. Scharninghausen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. K. Faulde.

Additional information

Communicated by Jürgen Gross

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Faulde, M.K., Tisch, M. & Scharninghausen, J.J. Efficacy of modified diatomaceous earth on different cockroach species (Orthoptera, Blattellidae) and silverfish (Thysanura, Lepismatidae). J Pest Sci 79, 155 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-006-0127-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-006-0127-8

Keywords

  • Blatta orientalis
  • Blattella germanica
  • Diatomaceous earth
  • Efficacy
  • Lepisma saccharina
  • Periplaneta americana