Sub-Lethal Effects of Pirimiphos-Methyl Are Expressed to Different Levels in Wings of Three Stored-Product Coleopterans: A Geometric Morphometrics Investigation

Abstract

Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), Prostephanus truncatus (Horn), and Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) are noxious insect pests of grains in storages. Pirimiphos-methyl is widely used to protect grains at the post-harvest stage. However, the sub-lethal impact of this active ingredient on the offspring of all three coleopterans remains unknown. Thus, mated females of each species were exposed separately to pirimiphos-methyl at short exposures (30 min, 3, 5, 8, 16, 24, and 36 h), where the elytra and hindwings of the adult progeny were analyzed with the geometric morphometrics method. Males and females of all species were incorporated into the analysis. The results revealed variability among species. Tenebrio molitor was the most sensitive among three species, displaying significant deformations in the elytra and hindwings. Males had more conspicuous morphological changes than females. Prostephanus truncatus hindwings exhibited deformities after 36 h of exposure to pirimiphos-methyl. In contrast, R. dominica offspring were not affected by pirimiphos-methyl. In light of our findings, organophosphorus insecticides may cause variable sub-lethal effects to stored-product insects. This issue may lead to different insecticidal treatments according to the targeted stored-product species.