Twelve years (2005-2017) of scientific and professional work in the field of stored products pests protection in Slovenia

Scientific and professional work in the field of stored products pests protection in Slovenia began in 2005, when we tested the efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes against the granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius) and the sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis) adults under laboratory conditions. In 2007, we participated as partners in the project SEE-ERA.NET “Development of a non-toxic, ecologically compatible, natural-resource based insecticide from diatomaceous earth deposits of South Eastern Europe to control storedgrain insects pests” (coordinated by C. Athanassiou), and we thus became acquainted with the research work in the field of investigation the efficacy of diatomaceous earth in controlling beetles from the Sitophilus genus. We have continued the research of different aspects of diatomaceous earth (the influence of geochemical composition and abiotic factors on its efficiency, the effects of individual and combined application, the effects on various harmful insect pests, etc.). In search for comparable substances to diatomaceous earth (regarding the efficacy), we have studied insecticidal effects of quartz sand and entomopathogenic nematodes from Slovenia, plant powders and essential oils on various harmful beetles. In the recent years, our research work has been mainly dedicated to studying the efficacy of wood ash and zeolites as natural insecticides, which have demonstrated sufficient efficiency in suppressing Sitophilus beetles. In the same period, we studied the seasonal dynamics of the Indian mealmoth (Plodia interpunctella), the Mediterranean flour moth (Ephestia kuehniella) and the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella) in cereal stores, where we were also searching for possible indigenious natural enemies of stored product insects pests. We have confirmed the occurrence of two parasitoids, Anisopteromalus calandrae and Dibrachys microgastri. In 2017, we have organized the 11th Conference of the IOBC/wprs Working Group on Integrated Protection of Stored Products (Ljubljana, 3-5 July), which was attended by 136 participants from 25 countries. We also transfer knowledge to Slovenian agricultural specialists about the harmfulness and possible ways of controlling stored products insects pests. In 2014, we have organized a workshop on this topic (“From Technological Maturity to Storing of Cereals and Legumes“). In 2015, we have hosted C. Athanassiou as an invited lecturer at the 12th Slovenian Conference on Plant Protection with international participation in Ptuj. In recent years, we have been working with experts from other countries with the aim of studying the efficacy of environmentally acceptable insecticides (spinosad, spinetoram) and the influence of cereal production technologies on grains’ susceptibility to attack by Sitophilus beetles. Furthermore, we participate in the research regarding the efficiency of new formulations of insecticidal preparations. The paper presents the chronology of activities in this area of our work.