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Recent Work on Mercury as an Insecticide against Insect Pests of Stored Grain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

M. Maqsud Nasir
M. Maqsud Nasir
Affiliation:
Assistant Entomologist, Quetta
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Extract

A review of the work carried out on mercury as a preservative against stored grain pests is given.

The influence of the duration of exposure to mercury vapour upon eggs of different stages of development is discussed.

Temperature and humidity within ordinary limits do not affect the efficiency of mercury.

Under airtight conditions this preservative is effective within a radius of three feet in receptables with or without grain.

Paper strips coated with mercury cannot be recommended for grain stored in bags and kept in piles because pressure and weight of the grain, or even shaking, will cause the mercury to be expelled from the strips.

Mercury dispersed in chalk cannot be used for grain destined for consumption. It is, however, quite suitable for preserving grain for seed.

Plastering the walls with mercury paste or afflxing slabs to the walls of godowns is not effective owing to the limited range of mercury vapour.

Application of mercury in various types of receptacles is discussed and advocated. Fumigation with mercury does not seem to be practicable.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 40 , Issue 2 , August 1949 , pp. 299 - 304
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1949

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