EFICIÊNCIA DA TERRA DE DIATOMÁCEA NO CONTROLE DO GORGULHO DO MILHO AO LONGO DO TEMPO

The present study aimed to evaluate the mortality and emergence of Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in corn grains treated with diatomaceous earth over 60 days. Grains with 12, 14 and 17%moisture content were used, treated with 0, 500, 1500 and 2500 g t-1 of the product, and each treatment comprised fivereplications with 100g of grains. Plastic containers were used for treatments application and infestation of 20 adults ofS. zeamais per replication. The analyses were performed at 30 and 60 days after infestation, which occurred 1 hour and15 days after application of the product. No statistical difference was observed for dosages used within each moistureand period of infestation, at 30 or 60 days. The highest mean for emergence (213.40 insects) was observed in the controltreatment with 14% humidity, 1 hour of infestation and differed statistically from the other treatments and from theinfestation at 15 days. As conclusion, diatomaceous earth presented satisfactory efficiency in the control of S. zeamais,and the initial moisture of grains did not affect the efficacy of the product