Insecticidal effect of diatomaceous earth formulation against Pear lace bug, Stephanitis pyri (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Tingidae)

Abstract

The pear lace bug, Stephanitis pyri (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Tingidae), is an economically important pest of pome fruit trees. This study was conducted under controlled laboratory conditions to determine the insecticidal efficacy of Detech® WP 95 against the nymphal instars and adults of S. pyri. Experiment was carried out on apple, Malus domestica Borkh. (Rosales: Rosaceae) leaves using aqueous DE suspensions at three concentrations (2.5, 5, and 10 g/m²), and mortality was recorded daily from the first to the fifth day after treatment. 100% mortality was achieved within 24h in all treatments with 1st nymphal instars, indicating a high susceptibility of early instar nymphs to DE exposure. In the 5th nymphal instar, at a rate of 2.5 g/m², mortality increased from 70 to 100% on the third and fifth day, respectively. At 5 g/m², mortality was 80% on the second day and 100% on the third day of the treatment. Overall, mortality was positively correlated with both exposure time and DE concentration. Lethal time (LT₅₀) value for adults at the lowest concentration was 1.29 days, which was lower than that of fifth-instar nymphs (2.56 days). In conclusion, DE shows significant toxicity against S. pyri and highlights its potential as a natural insecticidal agent in integrated pest management programs.

Keywords

• Detech
• IPM
• natural insecticide
• nymphal instars
• toxicity

Supporting Institution

No

Project Number

No

Ethical Statement

This research does not contain any studies with human participants.

Thanks

The authors express their sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr. Ali Arda Işıkber for providing a thorough review of the manuscript.

Armut kaplanı, Stephanitis pyri (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) üzerinde diatom toprağı formülasyonunun etkisi

Abstract

Armut kaplanı, Stephanitis pyri (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Tingidae), yumuşak çekirdekli meyve ağaçlarının ekonomik açıdan önemli bir zararlısıdır. Bu araştırma Detech® WP 95 preparatının S. pyri'nin 1. ve 5. dönem nimf ile ergin dönemlerine karşı öldürücü etkisini belirlemek amacıyla, kontrollü laboratuvar koşullarında 2024 yılında Tekirdağ'da yürütülmüştür. Denemeler elma, Malus domestica Borkh. (Rosales: Rosaceae) yaprakları üzerinde üç konsantrasyon düzeyinde (2.5, 5 ve 10. g/m²) sulu DE süspansiyonları ve kontrol grubu kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Ölüm oranları uygulamadan 1-5 gün sonra değerlendirilmiştir. Birinci dönem nimfler üzerinde tüm konsantrasyonlarda yüksek etkinlik göstermiş ve 24 saat içinde %100 ölüm meydana gelmiştir. Bu durum, erken dönem nimflerin DE’ye karşı oldukça duyarlı olduğunu göstermiştir. Beşinci dönem nimflerde ise 2.5 g/m² konsantrasyonlarda ölüm oranı 3. günde %70’ten 5. günde %100’e yükselmiştir, 5 g/m² konsantrasyonlarda ise 2. günde %80 ve 3. günde %100 ölüm oranına ulaşılmıştır. Genel olarak, ölüm oranının hem maruz kalma süresi hem de DE konsantrasyonu ile pozitif korelasyon gösterdiği belirlenmiştir. Öldürücü süre (LT), en düşük konsantrasyonda erginlerin LT₅₀ değeri 1.29 gün olup beşinci dönem nimflerden (2.56 gün) daha düşük bulunmuştur. Bu sonuçlar, DE'nin S. pyri üzerinde önemli toksik etkiler gösterdiğini ve entegre zararlı yönetimi kapsamında doğal bir böcek öldürücü olarak kullanılabilme potansiyelini ortaya koymuştur.

Keywords

• Detech
• IPM
• doğal böcek ilacı
• nimf evreleri
• toksisite

Supporting Institution

Yok

Project Number

No

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırma, insanlarla yapılan herhangi bir çalışma içermemektedir.

Thanks

Makaleyi kapsamlı bir şekilde değerlendiren Prof. Dr. Ali Arda Işıkber'e içten teşekkürlerimizi sunarız.

References

1. Abdelgaleil, S. A., H. A. Gad, M. S. Al-Anany, A. A. Al-Ayat & S. Selim, 2025. Efficacy of three microbial insecticides alone or in combination with diatomaceous earth for the control of Callosobruchus maculatus. Journal of Stored Products Research, 112: 102620 (1-9).
2. Aisvarya, S., M. Kalyanasundaram, M. Kannan, A. Lakshmanan & T. Srinivasan, 2021. Toxicity of diatomaceous earth on seed weevil, Sitophilus oryzae L. and its effect on agro-morphological characters of maize seeds. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 13 (4): 1180-1186.
3. Aldryhim, Y. N., 1990. Efficacy of the amorphous silica dust, Dryacide, against Tribolium confusum Duv. and Sitophilus granarius (L.) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae and Curculionidae). Journal of Stored Products Research, 26 (4): 207-210.
4. Anonymous, 2025. T.C. Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı, Bitki Koruma Ürünleri Daire Başkanlığı. (Web page: https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/) (Date accessed: March 2026). (in Turkish) Aslan, B. & İ. Karaca, 2005. Fruit tree aphids and their natural enemies in Isparta region, Turkey. Journal of Pest Science, 78 (4): 227-229.
5. Athanassiou, C., B. Vayias, C. Dimizas, N. Kavallieratos, A. Papagregoriou & C. T. Buchelos, 2005. Insecticidal efficacy of diatomaceous earth against Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Tribolium confusum du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on stored wheat: influence of dose rate, temperature and exposure interval. Journal of Stored Products Research, 41 (1): 47-55.
6. Athanassiou, C. G., N. G. Kavallieratos, C. B. Dimizas, B. J. Vayias & Ž. Tomanović, 2006. Factors affecting the insecticidal efficacy of the diatomaceous earth formulation SilicoSec® against adults of the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Applied Entomology and Zoology, 41 (2): 201-207.
7. Atlamaz, A., C. Zeki & A. Uludag, 2007. The importance of forecasting and warning systems in implementation of integrated pest management in apple orchards in Turkey. European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization Bulletin, 37 (2): 295-299.
8. Aysal, T. & M. Kıvan, 2008. Development and population growth of Stephanitis pyri (F.) (Heteroptera: Tingidae) at five temperatures. Journal of Pest Science, 81 (3): 135-141.

9. Baliota, G. V. & C. G. Athanassiou, 2020. Evaluation of a Greek diatomaceous earth for stored product insect control and techniques that maximize its insecticidal efficacy. Applied Sciences, 10 (18): 6441 (1-13).
10. Bozkurt, H., 2025. Physicochemical properties of local diatomaceous earths and their effects of water-suspension treatments against Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on chickpeas. Turkish Journal of Entomology, 49 (2): 141-158.
11. Daniel, C., W. Pfammatter, P. Kehrli & E. Wyss, 2005. Processed kaolin as an alternative insecticide against the European pear sucker, Cacopsylla pyri (L.). Journal of Applied Entomology, 129 (7): 363-367.
12. Ebeling, W., 1971. Sorptive dusts for pest control. Annual Review of Entomology, 16 (1): 123-158.
13. Ertürk, S., T. Atay, U. Toprak & M. Alkan, 2020. The efficacy of different surface applications of wettable powder formulation of Detech® diatomaceous earth against the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Journal of Stored Products Research, 89: 101725 (1-7).
14. Finney, D., 1971. Probit Analysis. Cambridge University Press, London, UK, 633 pp.
15. Flint, M. L. & R. Van den Bosch, 2012. Introduction to Integrated Pest Management. Springer Science & Business Media, New York, USA, 560 pp.
16. Ge, W., G. Du, L. Zhang, Z. Li, G. Xiao & B. Chen, 2020. The time-concentration-mortality responses of Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis, to the synergistic interaction of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium flavoviride, insecticides, and diatomaceous earth. Insects, 11 (2): 93 (1-20).
17. Giray, F. H., F. Cetin & B. Kadakoglu, 2019. Changing apple producers’ behaviour in pest control through pheromone traps: the case of Balkiri village in Egirdir district of Isparta, Turkey. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 28 (3): 2247-2254.
18. Glenn, D. M., 2012. The mechanisms of plant stress mitigation by kaolin-based particle films and applications in horticultural and agricultural crops. HortScience, 47 (6): 710-711.
19. Glenn, D. M. & G. J. Puterka, 2010. Particle Films: A New Technology for Agriculture. Horticultural Reviews, Volume 31. Wiley-Blackwell, Hoboken, NJ, USA, 44 pp.
20. Glenn, D. M., G. Puterka, T. Vanderzwet, R. Byers & C. Feldhake, 1999. Hydrophobic particle films: a new paradigm for suppression of arthropod pests and plant diseases. Journal of Economic Entomology, 92 (4): 759-771.
21. Göksu, M. E., 1964. Research on Biology and Control of the Pear Lace Bug (Stephanitis pyri Fabr.) in Sakarya and Kocaeli. Göztepe Institute of Agricultural Pest Control Publications, No. 160, Istanbul, Turkey, 160 pp.
22. Golub, V. & V. Soboleva, 2018. Morphological differences between Stephanitis pyri, Corythucha arcuata and C. ciliata (Heteroptera: Tingidae) distributed in the south of the European part of Russia. Zoosystematica Rossica, 27 (1): 142-145.
23. Gourgouta, M., C. I. Rumbos & C. G. Athanassiou, 2022. Impact of diatomaceous earth on adults and larvae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L. Journal of Stored Products Research, 98: 101987 (1-6).
24. Henteş, S. & A. A. Işıkber, 2024. Insecticidal efficacy of local diatomaceous earth compositions with different particle sizes against stored grain pests. Turkish Journal of Entomology, 48 (3): 353-365.
25. Islam, M. S. & M. M. Rahman, 2016. Diatomaceous earth-induced alterations in the reproductive attributes in the housefly Musca domestica L. (Diptera: Muscidae). Elixir Applied Zoology, 96: 41941-41944.
26. Islam, M. S., M. M. Hasan, C. Lei, T. Mucha-Pelzer, I. Mewis & C. Ulrichs, 2010. Direct and admixture toxicity of diatomaceous earth and monoterpenoids against the storage pests Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) and Sitophilus oryzae (L.). Journal of Pest Science, 83 (2): 105-112.
27. Jackson, K. & D. Webley, 1994. “Effects of Dryacide on the physical properties of grains, pulses and oilseeds, 635-637”. In: Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Stored Products Protection (17-23 April 1994, Canberra, Australia) (Eds. E. Highley, E. J. Wright, H. J. Banks, B. R. Champ) University Press: Cambridge, UK, 1274 pp.
28. Joseph, S. V., 2020. Repellent effects of insecticides on Stephanitis pyrioides Scott (Hemiptera: Tingidae) under laboratory conditions. Crop Protection, 127: 104985 (1-9).
29. Khan, A. A., A. R. Wani, F. A. Zaki, R. Nehru & S. Pathania, 2018. “Pests of Apple, 457-490”. In: Pests and Their Management (Eds. Omkar). Springer, Singapore, 1078 pp.
30. Kıvan, M. & T. Aysal, 2011. Adult survival rate and oviposition preference of Stephanitis pyri (F., 1775) (Heteroptera: Tingidae) on different plant species. Turkish Journal of Entomology, 35 (2): 169-178.
31. Kment, P. & Z. Jindra, 2005. New and interesting records of true bugs (Heteroptera) from Turkey, southeastern Europe, Near and Middle East. Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae, 45 (1): 3-16.
32. Korunic, Z., 1998. Diatomaceous earths, a group of natural insecticides. Journal of Stored Products Research, 34 (2-3): 87-97.
33. Korunić, Z., 2013. Diatomaceous earths: Natural insecticides. Journal Pesticides and Phytomedicine, 28 (2): 77-95.
34. Korunić, Z., A. Liška, P. Lucić, D. Hamel & V. Rozman, 2020. Evaluation of diatomaceous earth formulations enhanced with natural products against stored product insects. Journal of Stored Products Research, 86: 101565 (1-9).
35. Lalancette, N., R. D. Belding, P. W. Shearer, J. L. Frecon & W. H. Tietjen, 2005. Evaluation of hydrophobic and hydrophilic kaolin particle films for peach crop, arthropod and disease management. Pest Management Science, 61 (1): 25-39.
36. Leora, S., 2002. PoloPlus: Probit and Logit Analysis. LeOra Software, Petaluma, CA, USA.
37. Maral, H., 2021. Effect of spinosad, azadirachtin and kaolin on Stephanitis pyri (Fabricius, 1775) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) under laboratory conditions. Turkish Journal of Entomology, 45 (1): 87-97.
38. Marcotegui, A., I. Sánchez-Ramos, S. Pascual, C. E. Fernández, G. Cobos, I. Armendáriz, A. Cobo & M. González-Núñez, 2015. Kaolin and potassium soap with thyme essential oil to control Monosteira unicostata and other phytophagous arthropods of almond trees in organic orchards. Journal of Pest Science, 88 (4): 753-765.
39. Mitchell, R., D. Mott, A. Dhammi, D. Reisig, R. Roe & D. Stewart, 2018. “Field evaluation of a new thrips control agent for cotton: a mechanical insecticide, 786-795”. In: Proceedings of the Beltwide Cotton Conferences (3-5 January 2018, San Antonio, TX, USA), 925 pp.
40. Montazersaheb, H., A. A. Zamani & H.-R. Pourian, 2024. Bioecology of the pear lace bug, Stephanitis pyri (F.) (Hemiptera: Tingidae) on walnut trees in Kermanshah Province, Iran. Journal of Entomological Society of Iran, 44 (2): 189-199.
41. Mortazavi, H., A. G. Ferizli, U. Toprak, Ş. Tütüncü, M. Emekci & N. Ormanoğlu, 2025. Long-term efficacy of diatomaceous earth, SilicoSec® against three major stored grain insect pests. Journal of Stored Products Research, 111: 102531 (1-10).
42. Novljan, M., T. Bohinc, E. Indihar, L. Batistič & S. Trdan, 2025. Comparable insecticidal efficacy of three locally obtained inert dusts and commercial formulation of diatomaceous earth against adults of bean weevil (Acanthoscelides obtectus [Say], Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae). Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection, 132 (2): 70 (1-11).
43. Oerke, E. C., H. W. Dehne, F. Schönbeck & A. Weber, 2012. Crop Production and Crop Protection: Estimated Losses in Major Food and Cash Crops. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 529 pp.
44. Oğuz, C., Z. Karakayacı & İ. H. Kalyoncu, 2009. “Apple production and marketing in Turkey, 164-172”. In: Proceedings of the 1st International Symposium on Sustainable Development (ISSD), (9-10 June 2009, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina), 444 pp.
45. Peiris-John, R. J. & R. Wickremasinghe, 2008. Impact of low-level exposure to organophosphates on human reproduction and survival. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 102 (3): 239-245.
46. Penn, H. J., R. T. Richard & D. J. Dufrene, 2025. Initial assessment of diatomaceous earth use potential in Louisiana sugarcane IPM. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 97 (4): 111-121.
47. Pimentel, D. & R. Peshin, 2014. Integrated Pest Management: Pesticide Problems. Springer Science & Business Media, New York, USA, 433 pp.
48. Predojević, D. Z., F. N. Vukajlović, V. M. Perišić, A. M. Bogdanović & S. B. Pešić, 2025. Insecticidal efficacy of two diatomaceous earths from Serbia against the Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) infestation on maize. Journal of Stored Products Research, 111: 102538 (1-8).
49. Rahman, M. M., M. S. Islam & S. Mustari, 2016. Adverse effects of diatomaceous earth on immature duration, mortality, adult deformity and salivary gland morphometrics in Musca domestica L. International Journal of Science and Engineering Applications, 2 (6): 70-76.
50. Robertson, J. L., M. M. Jones, E. Olguin & B. Alberts, 2017. Bioassays with Arthropods, Third Edition. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 600 pp.
51. Royston, P., 1992. Approximating the Shapiro-Wilk W-test for non-normality. Statistics and Computing, 2 (3): 117-119.
52. Rozaini, N. A. & Z. M. Khalid, 2024. One-Way and Two-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using Parametric and Non-parametric Methods. Proceedings of Science and Mathematics, 22: 53-65.
53. Sağlam, O., A. Bayram, A. A. Isıkber, R. Sen, H. Bozkurt & S. Hentes, 2022a. Insecticidal and repellency effects of a Turkish diatomaceous earth formulation (Detech) on adults of three important pests of stored grain. Turkish Journal of Entomology, 46 (1): 75-88.
54. Sağlam, O., H. Bozkurt, R. Sen, S. L. Hentes & A. A. Isıkber, 2022b. Insecticidal efficacy of Turkish novel diatomaceous earth formulations against cowpea weevil Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchninae) on chickpea. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 31 (6): 5839-5849.
55. Sağlam, Ö., A. Çelik, A. A. Işıkber, H. Bozkurt, M. K. Sakka & C. G. Athanassiou, 2022c. Efficacy of spinetoram for the control of bean weevil, Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) on different surfaces. Insects, 13 (8): 723 (1-12).
56. Srivastava, A. K. & C. Kesavachandran, 2019. Health Effects of Pesticides. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton, FL, USA, 312 pp.
57. Subramanyam, B. & D. W. Hagstrum, 2012. Alternatives to Pesticides in Stored-Product IPM. Springer Science & Business Media, New York, USA, 486 pp.
58. Subramanyam, B. & R. Roesli, 2000. “Inert Dust, 321-380”. In: Alternatives to Pesticides in Stored-Product IPM (Eds. B. Subramanyam & D. W. Hagstrum). Springer Science & Business Media, Boston, MA, USA, 486 pp. USDA, 2025. Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service. Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade. (Web page: https://www.fas.usda.gov/) (Date accessed: March 2026).
59. Vayias, B. & C. Athanassiou, 2004. Factors affecting the insecticidal efficacy of the diatomaceous earth formulation SilicoSec against adults and larvae of the confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Crop Protection, 23 (7): 565-573.
60. Vergnani, S. & S. Caruso, 2008. Investigations on the efficacy of different products for the control of Stephanitis pyri in an organic pear orchard during the two-year period 2004-'05. Journal of Fruit and Ornamental Plant Research, 68 (1): 233-242.
61. Wahba, T. F., M. N. Wahba, M. T. Abo-Elfadl, G. T. El-Bassyouni & S. M. Mousa, 2025. Efficacy and characterization of synthesized metal oxide nanoparticles and diatomaceous earth on stored product insect control. Journal of Stored Products Research, 112: 102622 (1-12).
62. Wakil, W., M. C. Boukouvala, N. G. Kavallieratos, D. L. S. Gidari, A. Skourti & T. Riasat, 2025. Advances in stored-product pest management: combined effects of diatomaceous earths with botanicals, insecticides, entomopathogenic/plant pathogenic fungi, and silica gel. Sustainability, 17 (8): 3316 (1-25).
63. Yilmaz, H., V. Demircan, M. Gul & M. C. O. Kart, 2015. Economic analysis of pesticides applications in apple orchards in West Mediterranean region of Turkey. Erwerbs-Obstbau, 57 (3): 141-148.
64. Zaller, J. G., A. Oswald, M. Wildenberg, H. Burtscher-Schaden, I. Nadeem, H. Formayer & D. Paredes, 2023. Potential to reduce pesticides in intensive apple production through management practices could be challenged by climatic extremes. Science of The Total Environment, 872 (2023): 162237 (1-12).