The objective of this work was to assess the effect of temperature on the toxicity of the carbon dioxide-phosphine combination for the developmental stages of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The toxicity of combination of 5% carbon dioxide and 1 g m-3 phosphine in the developmental stages of egg, larvae of 5, 10 and 15 days, pupae and adult of T. castaneum was studied under the temperatures of 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 °C, through the estimation of lethal insect exposure times of 50 and 95% (LT50 and LT95). For that, time-response curves were established through bioassays with increasing periods of exposure to the combination of carbon dioxide and phosphine. A reduction of LT50 and LT95 was observed with temperature increase in all developmental stages of T. castaneum evaluated. The 5-day old larva was the developmental stage most susceptible to the combination of carbon dioxide and phosphine. According to the results, the combination of carbon dioxide with phosphine is a potential alternative to reduce the amount of phosphine applied on stored products, due to high toxicity in all developmental stages of T. castaneum under different temperatures.
storage; fumigation; modified atmosphere; insect-pest
