A study to determine the effect of ozone mixed with carbon dioxide on controlling
stored-grain insects was conducted in the storehouse. Adults of Sitophilus oryzae (L.),
Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Rhyzopertha dominica(F.), Oryzephilus
surinamensis(L.) and 3th larvae of Plodia interpunctella(Hubner) were exposed to the
mixture of ozone and carbon dioxide. After exposure periods of 24 h, the insects were
transferred to clean jars containing food and held at 27±2ºC and 65 ±5% R.H.
Experiments were performed in different heights (30, 40, 50 and 100 cm) and
nutrition materials (date, wheat and rice), in penetration tests and empty-space tests.
In empty-space trials, the highest mortality was for P. interpunctella. In penetration
tests, treatment with high-pressure ozone and carbon dioxide under different height
and foodstuff may result in different rates of mortality. The mixture of ozone and
carbon dioxide in the interaction between height and diet (heigh×diet) are not
significant for the S. oryzae, T. castaneum, R. dominicaand P. interpunctellabut for O.
surinamensis is significant. The influence of ozone gas and carbon dioxide in the date
is more than rice and wheat. The mixture of ozone with carbon dioxide can be as
suitable fumigant for decreasing phosphine and methyl bromide under ambient
storage conditions in penetration and empty-space fumigations.