Effect of chlorfluazuron and pyriproxyfen on the antennal morphology, pheromone production and response of surviving adults of Tribolium castaneum treated at the LC50 level during the pupal stage

Initial experiments were carried out to determine the dosage mortality response of the rust-red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum to two insect growth regulators, the chitin synthesis inhibitor chlorfluazuron and the juvenile hormone analogue pyriproxyfen. The response was measured as the proportion of adults developing from individuals treated during the pupal stage. For males, at the LC50 level, chlorfluazuron was more toxic than pyriproxyfen with LC50 values of 10.6 and 12.6 ppm respectively. For females, pyriproxyfen was more potent than chlorfluazuron with LC50 values of 7.1 and 8.3 ppm. Subsequent experiments were carried out using adults that had survived after treatment at the LC50 level during the pupal stage. Both responses to pheromone and the production of pheromone, by adults of both sexes that had been treated during the pupal stages with pyriproxyfen, were significantly more affected than those treated with chlorfluazuron. Both treatments caused abnormalities in the antennae of adults of both sexes. •Chlorfluazuron and pyriproxyfen caused high mortality of rust red flour beetles when applied to pupae.•Production of pheromone were more depressed in adults emerging from pupae treated with pyriproxyfen.•Effect of chlorfluazuron and pyriproxyfen on adults of Tribolium castaneum treated at the pupal stage.