Dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma for managing red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is one of the major stored products pests, causing substantial economic losses globally. The increasing restrictions on chemical fumigants necessitate the development of eco-friendly alternatives. This study has found the insecticidal potential of a pin-to-plate dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) cold plasma system against adult of the red flour beetle. Adults were exposed to plasma at varying voltages (15, 20, and 25 kV) and durations (30, 45, and 60 minutes) at a constant electrode distance of 9 cm with five adults per treatment. Mortality was assessed 3, 4, and 5 days post-treatment. Results showed mortality is directly dependent on voltage, exposure duration, and post-treatment time. The highest mortality (55±10.00%) was recorded at 25 kV after 60 minutes of exposure, observed 5 days after treatment. These findings conclude that cold plasma is a promising non-thermal technology for managing T. castaneum, but parameter optimisation is crucial for achieving maximum efficacy.