The effect of anoxic treatment on the larvae of six species of dermestids (Coleoptera)

Abstract: Based on surveys of species of museum pest insects commonly found in Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden, six species were selected for a study of the effect of exposure to anoxic treatment on the larval stage. An oxygen level of 0.3% (the rest, nitrogen) was applied and lethal exposure times were determined. Anthrenus museorum L. was the most susceptible species (LT 99 = 32.2 h), while Attagenus woodroffei Halst. & Green and Attagenus smirnovi Zhantiev (LT 99 = 88.1 h) were the most tolerant species. The LT 99 value of At. woodroffei was not calculated, as only 50% of the larvae were killed by the treatment. The results indicate that large intraspecific variation is present in these two Attagenus species. Larvae of Anthrenus verbasci (L.) (LT 99 = 43.9 h), Reesa vespulae (Milliron) (LT 99 = 53.6 h), and Trogoderma angustum (Solier) (LT 99 = 57.2 h) showed intermediate tolerance.