Insecticidal Evaluation of Spinosad Against the Hide Beetle, Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)
by
, , , , , and
Shakila Khatun Bristy
1
,
Md. Nadim Aktar
1,
Ataul Ahad
1,
Md. Saiful Islam
1,
Paraskevi Agrafioti
2,*
,
Christos G. Athanassiou
2
and
Md. Mahbub Hasan
3 1
Department of Crop Science and Technology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
2
Laboratory of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology, Department of Agriculture, Crop Production and Rural Environment, University of Thessaly, Phytokou Str., 38446 Nea Ionia, Magnesia, Greece
3
Department of Zoology, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi 6205, Bangladesh
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Insects 2026, 17(4), 375; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040375
Submission received: 3 March 2026
/
Revised: 20 March 2026
/
Accepted: 24 March 2026
/
Published: 1 April 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Chemical and Non-Chemical Control in Stored Product Protection: Modern Methods for Old Problems)
Simple Summary
Efficacy of Spinosad against the hide beetle Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), a key pest of animal-based commodities, remains insufficiently studied. In the present study, we evaluated the contact and oral toxicity of spinosad at different concentrations, applied directly to animal-derived substrates. The mortality of larvae and adults was assessed, and probit analysis was conducted to estimate susceptibility. Spinosad caused significant mortality in both life stages, with larvae being more susceptible under contact exposure and adults under feeding exposure. Toxicity increased with concentration, with larval contact and adult ingestion representing the most effective exposure routes. Overall, these findings indicate that spinosad has potential as an effective tool for the management of D. maculatus in stored animal products within integrated pest management (IPM) programs.
Abstract
Spinosad, Saccharopolyspora spinosa, is widely used as a stored product protectant. However, its efficacy against the hide beetle Dermestes maculatus DeGeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae), a major pest of dried animal-based materials, remains underexplored. In this study, we evaluated the contact and oral toxicities of spinosad across a range of concentrations applied directly to animal-derived substrates. Larval and adult mortality, along with probit parameters, were determined to assess susceptibility. Spinosad produced significant mortality in both life stages, with larvae exhibiting higher susceptibility under contact exposure, whereas adults showed increased susceptibility under feeding exposure. These patterns are consistent with prior reports of spinosad’s dual-action toxicity against stored-product pests. The larval contact and adult feeding exposures to spinosad were positively associated with higher doses, while adult contact and larval food exposures aligned with lower doses. The larval contact and adult ingestion routes drive the strongest toxic responses, whereas adult contact and larval feeding elicit weaker effects under the same doses. Overall, our results highlight spinosad as a promising tool for integrated pest management of hide beetles in animal-based storage systems.
Keywords:
toxicity; spinosad; hide beetle; dried fish; bacterial pesticides
