TY  - JOUR
JF  - Acarologia
T1  - Effect of a phosphine-carbon dioxide fumigant on Carpoglyphus lactis and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Acari: Acaridae) infesting dried fig fruits
VL  - 66
IS  - 1
SP  - 113
EP  - 117
PY  - 2026
SN  - 0044-586X
SN  - 2107-7207
PB  - Les Amis d'Acarologia
AU  - Cakmak, Ibrahim
UR  - https://doi.org/10.24349/6qnx-sdqf
DO  - 10.24349/6qnx-sdqf
DA  - 2026-02-13
ET  - 2026-02-13
KW  - phosphine fumigation
KW  - fumigant efficacy
KW  - storage mites
KW  - Carpoglyphus lactis
KW  - Tyrophagus putrescentiae
KW  - dried figs
AB  - Dried figs (Ficus carica L.) are a high-value export commodity for Türkiye, particularly from the Aydın and İzmir provinces. Infestations by storage mites, especially Carpoglyphus lactis (L.) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank), reduce product quality, promote microbial growth, and frequently result in export rejections. A phosphine-carbon dioxide fumigant (2% phosphine + 98% carbon dioxide; Eco2fume®) is widely used for stored-product pest control worldwide and is commonly applied in dried-fig fumigation for insect management in Türkiye; however, its acaricidal efficacy has not been documented. This study evaluated the effectiveness of this fumigant against C. lactis and T. putrescentiae under commercial fumigation conditions using four concentrations (500, 700, 1000, and 1400 ppm). Fumigation was conducted in industrial chambers at a dried-fig processing facility. Knockdown was assessed immediately after chamber opening (0 h), and mortality and egg hatch were monitored for up to 168 h. At 1000 and 1400 ppm, 100% knockdown and mortality of all mobile stages of both mite species were achieved. At 700 and 500 ppm, high initial knockdown was observed; however, partial recovery occurred after chamber opening, resulting in lower mortality, particularly for C. lactis. No egg hatching was detected at any fumigation concentration, whereas all developmental stages remained viable in the control. These results demonstrate that phosphine–carbon dioxide fumigation at the commercially recommended dose of 1000 ppm can effectively control both mobile stages and egg hatch of C. lactis and T. putrescentiae under realistic industrial conditions.
ER -