The laboratory rearing of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is frequently infested by the parasite mite Acarophenax lacunatus (Cross and Krantz) (Prostigmata: Acarophenacidae). This study was aimed at evaluating the sulfur doses, an effective acaricide against A. lacunatus, not harmful to the development of with R. dominica. The experimental units were Petri dishes containing 30g of whole wheat grains powdered with the different doses of the sulfur (0.0, 0.6, 0.9, 1.2, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, 24.0 and 48.0mg a i g-1) infested with 30 adults of R. dominica, in ten replicates. All treatments were maintained under controlled conditions (30±1°C, 60±5% r h and 24h scotophase) for 60 days after the insect infestation. Sulfur doses higher than 3.0mg a i g-1 negatively affected R. dominica development.
Insecta; rearing mass; Acarophenacidae; acaricide
