[en] The effects of γ-radiation on all stages of the hide beetle Dermestes maculatus, DeGeer were studied. Eggs of D. maculatus were more susceptible to γ radiation than other stages. Egg radiosensitivity decreased with increasing embryonic development. An absorbed dose of 200 Gy killed the 1st, 6th and 7th instar larvae, but the 4th and 5th instar larvae were more resistant. The developmental period increased in treated larvae. Pupae (24 h) treated with 150 Gy failed to eclose, but eclosion was not affected in older pupae. Adults from female pupae irradiated at 72 h with 150 Gy were infertile, but male pupae required more than 200 Gy for sterilization. The average number of eggs per female decreased with increasing doses when either the male or female of the pair was irradiated as pupae or adults. Adult males were sterile after irradiation 300 Gy and adult females treated with the same dose failed to lay eggs. Newly emerged irradiated adults or female adults from irradiated 72-h-old pupae recovered some fertility after treatment with doses as high as 150 Gy. Adult males from irradiated 72-h-old pupae were treated at doses of 50 and 100 Gy showed a higher reproductive capacity at 60 days than at 15 days post-treatment. A dose between 200 and 300 Gy was necessary to provide complete sterility of 24-h-old adults. (author)

[en] Competitiveness of Callosobruchus analis F. was studied from the adult emergence resulting when males irradiated with substerilizing doses of 1.5, 3 and 5 Kr. of gamma radiation and were confined in various ratios with unirradiated pairs of weevils. Egg production and longevity of a female decreased with the increase of irradiated males in the combination in each dose level. 1.5 Kr. population at a ratio of 9:3:3 (Irradiated male: unirradiated male: unirradiated female) produced 47.60% sterility. Increasing the irradiated males in the ratio to 15:3:3 and 24:3:3 caused 57.61 and 61.24% sterility respectively. Sterility increased with the increase of radiation dose in all combinations. Weevils irradiated with all these doses were fully competitive. (author)

[en] Studies were carried out on four varieties of pulses, namely, mosur or lentil (Lens esculenta), mung (Phaseolus aureus), chola or gram (Cirecer aricitinum), and mashkalai (Phaseolus radiatus). Two major burchid betles, Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) and Callosobruchus analis (Fab.), were found to infest different varieties of pulses. Radiation sensitivity of the two pulse beetles was determined at different developmental stages (i.e., eggs, larvae, and pupae). Emergence of adults from eggs totally stopped at a dose of 0.04 kGy. Doses of 0.28 and 0.32 kGy, respectively, were required for complete inhibition of adult emergence from irradiated fourth instar larvae of C. analis and C. chinensis. Studies revealed that the experimental gram was heavily infested (65-91 percent) as compared to other pulses after 8 months of storage in all packaging materials used (gunny bag, gunny bag lined with polyethylene, polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride bags). Mashkalai showed insignificant damage (2-5 percent) by the insects. Reinfestation in the treated products was observed in polyethylene and gunny bags