Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Pest Science https://doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-0982-0 ORIGINAL PAPER Efcacy of low temperatures for the control of all life stages of Plodia interpunctella and Liposcelis bostrychophila C. G. Athanassiou 1,2  · F. H. Arthur 2  · K. L. Hartzer 2,3 Received: 11 September 2017 / Revised: 13 April 2018 / Accepted: 21 April 2018 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract The insecticidal efect of low temperatures for the control of all life stages of two stored-product insects, Plodia interpunc- tella and Liposcelis bostrychophila, was evaluated under laboratory conditions. The temperatures tested were 0, − 5, − 10 and − 15 °C, and, at these temperatures, the insects were exposed for 2, 4 and 8 h and also for 1, 2, 3 and 7 days. Regard- ing P. interpunctella, the most cold-tolerant life stage was larvae, given that 2 days of exposure were needed for complete (100%) mortality at − 10 °C. Moreover, all larvae were dead at − 15 °C even after 2 h of exposure. Eggs of P. interpunctella were susceptible to cold, as mortality was complete after 7, 1 day, 2 and 2 h at 0, − 5, − 10 and − 15 °C, respectively. L. bostrychophila was by far less susceptible than P. interpunctella. For this species, adults were still alive even after 7 days at − 10 °C, while complete mortality was achieved only after 1 day at − 15 °C. Eggs of L. bostrychophila were the most cold-tolerant life stage, as survival was observed even after 3 days at − 15 °C. The results of the present study provide the frst data set on which all life stages of P. interpunctella and L. bostrychophila are evaluated for their susceptibility to cold treatments in a standardized series of exposures and temperatures. These results are expected to further encourage the “real world” application of cold treatments for the disinfestation of durable stored-products. Keywords Low temperatures · Cold treatment · Stored-product insects · Non-chemical control Key message • There is a knowledge gap on the use of cold treatments for the control of Plodia interpunctella and Liposcelis bostrychophila • Liposcelis bostrychophila was far more tolerant to cold than P. interpunctella • Eggs and larvae were the most cold-tolerant life stages for L. bostrychophila and P. interpunctella, respectively • This is the frst data set on which diferent temperature levels are examined at diferent exposure intervals for all life stages of these two species • These results are expected to shed light on the use of cold treatments for stored-product disinfestation in “real world” applications Introduction The use of extreme temperatures for the control of stored- product insects is regarded as one of the most promising alternatives to the use of traditional chemical control meas- ures. In this context, it is generally considered that exposures of at least 24 h at 50 °C can kill all life stages of most of the major stored-product insect species that occur at the post- harvest stages of durable agricultural commodities (Mahroof et al. 2003a, b). Currently, the application of high tempera- tures, known globally as “heat treatment”, is one of the most important “green” methods for disinfestation of storage and Communicated by M. Traugott. * C. G. Athanassiou athanassiou@agr.uth.gr 1 Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Phytokou Str., 38446 Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece 2 USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Center for Grain and Animal Health Research, 1515 College Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66502, USA 3 Lawrenceville, USA