Toxicityof carbon dioxide to drugstore beetle Stegobium paniceum and cigarette beetle Lasioderma serricorne

Mortality and sub-lethal effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) against Stegobium paniceum and Lasioderma
serricorne were studied. All life stages of S. paniceum were relativelymore susceptible than those of L.
serricorne. In both species, the pupal stage was the most tolerant followed bylarva , egg and adult. The
influence of changing CO2 concentrations (stepwise increase or stepwise decrease) in comparison with
constant CO2 concentration on the mortalityrespon ses of adults of S. paniceum and L. serricorne at fixed
Ct products was also examined. Both changing concentrations of CO2 were more effective than constant
concentration and the effect was more pronounced in S. paniceum. CO2, at LD50 doses, prolonged the
developmental period of the survivors in both species. Treatment of adults caused a significant reduction in
progenyprodu ction indicating an adverse effect on the multiplication potential of the survivors.