{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T08:20:33Z","timestamp":1782894033173,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,19]],"date-time":"2025-09-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1758240000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Insects"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The relative efficacy of amorphous silica dusts, malathion, and pirimiphos methyl was assessed against S. oryzae and T. castaneum in stored wheat under laboratory conditions. Insecticidal performance was influenced by physical properties such as particle size, surface area, bulk density, and oil\/water adsorption capacity. Fumed silicas showed the highest toxicity, particularly Wacker HDK H20 (LC50 = 19.4 mg\/100 g at 12% moisture). Precipitated silica, Sipernat 22, though less potent (LC50 = 46.6 mg\/100 g), displayed consistent efficacy across different moisture levels, making it a suitable inert carrier. Increasing grain moisture to 15% significantly reduced the effectiveness of all dusts. When insecticides were combined with silica, their toxicity increased markedly. Malathion on silica (0.2%) reduced LC50 values to 21.5 and 23.3 \u00b5g a.i.\/100 g for T. castaneum and S. oryzae, respectively, compared to 52.3 and 84.7 \u00b5g a.i.\/100 g on talc. Pirimiphos methyl on silica (0.1%) was the most effective, achieving LC50 values of 13.4 and 15.5 \u00b5g a.i.\/100 g. Long-term bioassays over 25 weeks showed declining mortality rates, particularly at 15% moisture. However, pirimiphos methyl on silica maintained over 90% mortality at 12% moisture throughout the period, indicating strong residual efficacy. The results highlight the synergistic potential of combining silica with chemical insecticides and the crucial role of environmental humidity in stored grain pest management.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/insects16090981","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,22]],"date-time":"2025-09-22T13:04:44Z","timestamp":1758546284000},"page":"981","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Relative Effectiveness of Amorphous Silica, Malathion, and Pirimiphos Methyl in Controlling Sitophilus oryzae and Tribolium\u00a0castaneum and Their Long-Term Effects on Stored Wheat Under Laboratory Conditions"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Nawal Abdulaziz","family":"Alfuhaid","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biology, College of Science and Humanities in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mohamed S.","family":"Shawir","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pesticide Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Alexandria University, El-Shatby, Alexandria 21545, Egypt"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO] (2023). FAOSTAT, FAO."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Eren, A. (2023). Sustainable agricultural production: Perspective on wheat and dry bean\u2013world and turkey. Advanced Strategies for Agriculture\u2014II, IKSAD Publishing House."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Abdalla, A., Stellmacher, T., and Becker, M. (2022). Trends and prospects of change in wheat self-sufficiency in Egypt. Agriculture, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/agriculture13010007"},{"key":"ref_4","first-page":"26","article-title":"Post-harvest loss of stored grain, its causes and reduction strategies","volume":"96","author":"Tadesse","year":"2020","journal-title":"Food Sci. Qual. Manag."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"53","DOI":"10.5958\/0974-8172.2016.00025.0","article-title":"Storage insect pests and their damage symptoms: An overview","volume":"78","author":"Srivastava","year":"2016","journal-title":"Indian J. Entomol."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Alnaji, L.K. (1978). Effectiveness of Methyl Phoxim and Malathion on Stored Grain Insects and the Fate of the Insecticide Residues on the Properties of the Grain Products. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Kansas State University]."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Baliota, G.V., Lampiri, E., Batzogianni, E.N., and Athanassiou, C.G. (2022). Insecticidal effect of four insecticides for the control of different populations of three stored-product beetle species. Insects, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/insects13040325"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jspr.2017.10.011","article-title":"Persistence and residual toxicity of two pirimiphos-methyl formulations on wheat against three stored-product pests","volume":"76","author":"Rumbos","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Stored Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Pathak, V.M., Verma, V.K., Rawat, B.S., Kaur, B., Babu, N., Sharma, A., Dewali, S., Yadav, M., Kumari, R., and Singh, S. (2022). Current status of pesticide effects on environment, human health and it\u2019s eco-friendly management as bioremediation: A comprehensive review. Front. Microbiol., 13.","DOI":"10.3389\/fmicb.2022.962619"},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-474X(88)90009-4","article-title":"Amorphous silica as an additive to dust formulations of insecticides for stored grain pest control","volume":"24","author":"Shawir","year":"1988","journal-title":"J. Stored Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jayas, D.S. (2024). Contact Insecticides: Chemicals, Diatomaceous Earth, and Amorphous Silica for Stored-Grain Protection. Control and Management of Pests in Stored Products, CRC Press.","DOI":"10.1201\/9781003309888"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"208","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biocontrol.2009.07.012","article-title":"Tandem use of selective insecticides and natural enemies for effective, reduced-risk pest management","volume":"52","author":"Gentz","year":"2010","journal-title":"Biol. Control"},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"315","DOI":"10.1002\/jsfa.2740110605","article-title":"Determination of moisture content in cereals. II.\u2014Errors in the determination by oven drying of known changes in moisture content","volume":"11","author":"Oxley","year":"1960","journal-title":"J. Sci. Food Agric."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1016\/0022-474X(86)90020-2","article-title":"The effect of grain moisture content on the toxicity of a sorptive silica dust to four species of grain beetle","volume":"22","year":"1986","journal-title":"J. Stored Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_15","unstructured":"Finney, D.J. (1971). Probit Analysis, Cambridge University Press. [3rd ed.]."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"241","DOI":"10.1002\/jctb.5010170901","article-title":"Humidity control in the laboratory using salt solutions\u2014A review","volume":"17","author":"Young","year":"1967","journal-title":"J. Appl. Chem."},{"key":"ref_17","unstructured":"Kirkpatrick, L.A., and Feeney, B.C. (2015). A Simple Guide to IBM SPSS: For Version 23.0, Delmar Learning."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.en.16.010171.001011","article-title":"Sorptive dusts for pest control","volume":"16","author":"Ebeling","year":"1971","journal-title":"Annu. Rev. Entomol."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, L., Ning, C., Pan, T., and Cai, K. (2022). Role of silica nanoparticles in abiotic and biotic stress tolerance in plants: A review. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 23.","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms23041947"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Zing Zing, B., Messi Ambassa, L.M., Ehabe Ejolle, E., Belibi Belibi, D.P., and Kede, C.M. (2024). Protection of Stored Common Bean and Maize Grains Using Optimally Synthesized Biosilica from Rice Husk Ash. J. Food Biochem., 2024.","DOI":"10.1155\/2024\/3741615"},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"145","article-title":"Effect of grain moisture content and storage time on efficacy of inert and botanical dusts for the control of Sitophilus zeamais in stored maize","volume":"3","author":"Superfine","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Stored Prod. Postharvest Res."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"959","article-title":"Insecticidal effect of some inert dusts against three of stored grain insects at Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate","volume":"1","author":"Nasr","year":"2010","journal-title":"J. Plant Prot. Pathol."},{"key":"ref_23","first-page":"2466448","article-title":"Cabbage pest control with local inert dusts: Do diatomaceous earth and wood ash have the highest potential?","volume":"75","author":"Bohinc","year":"2025","journal-title":"Acta Agric. Scand. B Soil Plant Sci."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.micromeso.2007.12.022","article-title":"Nanoporous materials with enhanced hydrophilicity and high water sorption capacity","volume":"114","author":"Ng","year":"2008","journal-title":"Microporous Mesoporous Mater."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, Z., He, X., Xiao, C., and Kim, S.H. (2018). Effect of humidity on friction and wear\u2014A critical review. Lubricants, 6.","DOI":"10.3390\/lubricants6030074"},{"key":"ref_26","unstructured":"Dobrijevic, D. (2021). Decoupling the Effects of Atmospheric Humidity and Soil Moisture on Cereal Physiology. [Ph.D. Thesis, University of Nottingham]."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Stejskal, V., Vendl, T., Aulicky, R., and Athanassiou, C. (2021). Synthetic and natural insecticides: Gas, liquid, gel and solid formulations for stored-product and food-industry pest control. Insects, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/insects12070590"},{"key":"ref_28","unstructured":"Du, X. (2021). The Physiochemical Responses of Stored Grain Insect Pests to Synthetic Amorphous Silica (SAS) Powders. [Ph.D. Thesis, Murdoch University]."},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"4216","DOI":"10.1021\/cr3003054","article-title":"Silica Surface Features and Their Role in the Adsorption of Biomolecules: Computational Modeling and Experiments","volume":"113","author":"Rimola","year":"2013","journal-title":"Chem. Rev."},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"258","DOI":"10.1016\/j.culher.2015.06.002","article-title":"Silica nanoparticles (SiO2): Influence of relative humidity in stone consolidation","volume":"18","year":"2016","journal-title":"J. Cult. Herit."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.3923\/je.2011.101.122","article-title":"Control strategies of stored product pests","volume":"8","year":"2011","journal-title":"J. Entomol."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envexpbot.2015.07.001","article-title":"Silicon, the silver bullet for mitigating biotic and abiotic stress, and improving grain quality, in rice?","volume":"120","author":"Meharg","year":"2015","journal-title":"Environ. Exp. Bot."},{"key":"ref_33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"519","DOI":"10.1002\/chem.201702763","article-title":"Synthetic talc and talc-like structures: Preparation, features and applications","volume":"24","author":"Claverie","year":"2018","journal-title":"Chem. A Eur. J."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"404","DOI":"10.1080\/15569543.2019.1633673","article-title":"Integrating inert dusts with other technologies in stored products protection","volume":"40","author":"Ziaee","year":"2021","journal-title":"Toxin Rev."},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1002\/ps.783","article-title":"Persistence and residual activity of an organophosphate, pirimiphos-methyl, and three IGRs, hexaflumuron, teflubenzuron and pyriproxyfen, against the cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)","volume":"60","year":"2004","journal-title":"Pest Manag. Sci."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123006","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhazmat.2020.123006","article-title":"A recent global review of hazardous chlorpyrifos pesticide in fruit and vegetables: Prevalence, remediation and actions needed","volume":"400","author":"Foong","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Hazard. Mater."},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"102264","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jspr.2024.102264","article-title":"Efficacy of two amorphous silica powders applied to soft red winter wheat against the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae)","volume":"106","author":"Manivannan","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Stored Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_38","unstructured":"Twaibu, A. (2023). Toxicity of Different Insecticides to Sitophilus oryzae Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum Infesting Corn. [Master\u2019s Thesis, University of Arkansas]."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"125","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-474X(96)00049-5","article-title":"Degradation and biological impact of chlorpyrifos-methyl on stored wheat and pirimiphos-methyl on stored maize in western Canada","volume":"33","author":"White","year":"1997","journal-title":"J. Stored Prod. Res."},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Gao, N. (2018). Management of Indian Meal Moth and Maize Weevil in Stored Popcorn Using Approved Grain Protectants. [Master\u2019s Thesis, Kansas State University]."},{"key":"ref_41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"314","DOI":"10.1002\/ps.5517","article-title":"Effect of synthetic amorphous silica powder on the cuticle of Tribolium castaneum and Sitophilus oryzae using hyperspectral imaging technique","volume":"76","author":"Li","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pest Manag. Sci."}],"container-title":["Insects"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4450\/16\/9\/981\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,9]],"date-time":"2025-10-09T18:46:01Z","timestamp":1760035561000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4450\/16\/9\/981"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,19]]},"references-count":41,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9]]}},"alternative-id":["insects16090981"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/insects16090981","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-4450"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-4450","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,19]]}}}