Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic Storage

Accelerating oxygen depletion during hermetic storage can minimize pest damage and preserve product quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand warmers in accelerating hypoxia to control insect pests inside hermetic containers. We used one, two, or four hand warmers to deplete oxygen in...

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Main Authors: Wenbo Li, John Stephen Yaninek, Dieudonne Baributsa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-10-01
Series:Insects
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/10/821
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author Wenbo Li
John Stephen Yaninek
Dieudonne Baributsa
author_facet Wenbo Li
John Stephen Yaninek
Dieudonne Baributsa
author_sort Wenbo Li
collection DOAJ
description Accelerating oxygen depletion during hermetic storage can minimize pest damage and preserve product quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand warmers in accelerating hypoxia to control insect pests inside hermetic containers. We used one, two, or four hand warmers to deplete oxygen in a 4-gallon hermetic jar with 4 kg of cowpea and cowpea bruchids, alongside a non-hermetic control with cowpea bruchids and no hand warmers. Oxygen levels, insect mortality, egg counts, seed moisture content, and germination rates were monitored over 2, 5, or 8 days of storage. Only the four hand warmers treatment reduced oxygen levels below 1% within 12 h and maintained them for up to 168 h. The other treatments did not achieve this level. Insect mortality was higher with more hand warmers and extended storage duration, reaching 100% after 5 and 8 days with four and two hand warmers, respectively. Similarly, increased hand warmers and extended storage durations reduced egg counts and adult emergence. The treatments did not affect the moisture content or germination rates of the stored cowpea seeds. Hand warmers proved effective in accelerating hypoxia during hermetic storage, resulting in high insect mortality and reduced reproduction, without compromising grain quality.
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spelling doaj-art-d56579dddc2b4b61aff3645825c9686e2025-08-20T02:11:05ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-10-01151082110.3390/insects15100821Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic StorageWenbo Li0John Stephen Yaninek1Dieudonne Baributsa2Department of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USADepartment of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USADepartment of Entomology, Purdue University, 901 W. State St., West Lafayette, IN 47907, USAAccelerating oxygen depletion during hermetic storage can minimize pest damage and preserve product quality. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand warmers in accelerating hypoxia to control insect pests inside hermetic containers. We used one, two, or four hand warmers to deplete oxygen in a 4-gallon hermetic jar with 4 kg of cowpea and cowpea bruchids, alongside a non-hermetic control with cowpea bruchids and no hand warmers. Oxygen levels, insect mortality, egg counts, seed moisture content, and germination rates were monitored over 2, 5, or 8 days of storage. Only the four hand warmers treatment reduced oxygen levels below 1% within 12 h and maintained them for up to 168 h. The other treatments did not achieve this level. Insect mortality was higher with more hand warmers and extended storage duration, reaching 100% after 5 and 8 days with four and two hand warmers, respectively. Similarly, increased hand warmers and extended storage durations reduced egg counts and adult emergence. The treatments did not affect the moisture content or germination rates of the stored cowpea seeds. Hand warmers proved effective in accelerating hypoxia during hermetic storage, resulting in high insect mortality and reduced reproduction, without compromising grain quality.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/10/821hypoxia treatmentcowpea bruchidsoxygen scavengersgrain storage
spellingShingle Wenbo Li
John Stephen Yaninek
Dieudonne Baributsa
Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic Storage
Insects
hypoxia treatment
cowpea bruchids
oxygen scavengers
grain storage
title Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic Storage
title_full Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic Storage
title_fullStr Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic Storage
title_full_unstemmed Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic Storage
title_short Hand Warmer-Induced Hypoxia Accelerates Pest Control in Hermetic Storage
title_sort hand warmer induced hypoxia accelerates pest control in hermetic storage
topic hypoxia treatment
cowpea bruchids
oxygen scavengers
grain storage
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/10/821
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AT johnstephenyaninek handwarmerinducedhypoxiaacceleratespestcontrolinhermeticstorage
AT dieudonnebaributsa handwarmerinducedhypoxiaacceleratespestcontrolinhermeticstorage