Effect of Teflubenzuron, Hexaflumuron and Pyriproxyfen Compounds on Nutritional Indices of Confused Flour Beetle, Tribolium confusum Duval (Col.: Tenebrionidae)

Confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Duval (Col.: Tenebrionidae) is one of the most important stored product pests of flour in Iran. In this research the effects of insect growth regulators (IGRs): teflubenzuron, hexaflumuron and pyriproxyfen were studied on larval and imago nutritional indices of confused flour beetle. The results showed that they were more effective on relative growth rate (RGR) and relative consumption rate (RCR) in the low concentration of 65 and 250 ppm of pyriproxyfen and hexaflumuron, and concentration of 1000 ppm of teflubenzuron. The results showed that, RGR and RCR indices decreased and feeding detterent index (FDI) index increased the concentration of compounds. The lowest efficacy of conversion of ingested food (61.5% in imago and 49,5% in larvae) and the highest feeding deterrent index (92% in imago and larvae) were recorded for confused flour beetle larvae and imago treated with teflubenzuron (1000 ppm). So, the IGRs could be used as safe insecticides to control the confused flour beetle.