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Journals / Bozok Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 5 Sayı: 1

Microwave Radiation-Induced Mortality of Yellow Mealworm Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Sarı un kurdu Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)’nda Mikrodalga Radyasyonunun Neden Olduğu Mortalite

Betül Kayahan(ısparta uygulamalı bilimler üniversitesi)0000-0001-6000-0780
Pages
10–20
Publication Date
2026-08-26
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results demonstrated a significant increase in mortality rates with increasing power and exposure time.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study was conducted to investigate the effects of microwave radiation on adult individuals of Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a major stored-product pest.
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Key Findings & Data:The rapid increase in global population and the corresponding rise in food demand necessitate the reduction of pest-related losses during storage.
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Conclusion & Impact:The results demonstrated a significant increase in mortality rates with increasing power and exposure time.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Ölüm oranı · Depolanmış ürün zararlısı · Fiziksel kontrol

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of microwave radiation on adult individuals of Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a major stored-product pest. The rapid increase in global population and the corresponding rise in food demand necessitate the reduction of pest-related losses during storage. Due to the adverse impacts of chemical pesticides on human health and the environment, there has been a growing interest in alternative control strategies, with physical methods such as microwave applications gaining prominence. In this study, the effects of different microwave power levels (120–700 W) and exposure durations (5–100 s) on insect mortality were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The results demonstrated a significant increase in mortality rates with increasing power and exposure time. While mortality remained low at lower power levels and shorter durations, applications at 600–700 W for 60 seconds or longer resulted in mortality rates approaching 100%. Furthermore, increasing radiation intensity led to a marked reduction in LT₅₀ and LT₉₀ values, indicating a faster onset of mortality. Statistical analyses confirmed that the differences among treatments were significant and revealed a strong dose–response relationship for microwave exposure. The findings suggest that microwave radiation induces rapid and effective mortality in insects through thermal stress. Overall, microwave treatment appears to be an environmentally friendly, residue-free alternative or complementary approach to chemical control for managing T. molitor.

Özet

Bu çalışma, depolanmış ürün zararlılarından Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) ergin bireyleri üzerinde mikrodalga radyasyonunun etkilerini incelemek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Artan dünya nüfusu ve buna bağlı gıda ihtiyacı, depolama sürecinde oluşan zararlı kaynaklı kayıpların azaltılmasını zorunlu kılmaktadır. Kimyasal pestisitlerin çevre ve insan sağlığı üzerindeki olumsuz etkileri nedeniyle alternatif mücadele yöntemlerine olan ihtiyaç artmış, bu kapsamda mikrodalga gibi fiziksel yöntemler ön plana çıkmıştır. Araştırmada, farklı mikrodalga güçleri (120–700 Watt) ve uygulama sürelerinin (5–100 saniye) mortalite üzerindeki etkileri laboratuvar koşullarında değerlendirilmiştir. Sonuçlar hem güç hem de süre artışına bağlı olarak ölüm oranlarının önemli ölçüde yükseldiğini göstermiştir. Düşük güç ve kısa sürelerde mortalite sınırlı kalırken, özellikle 600–700 Watt ve 60 saniye üzerindeki uygulamalarda %100’e varan ölüm oranları elde edilmiştir. Ayrıca, radyasyon gücü arttıkça LT₅₀ ve LT₉₀ değerlerinin belirgin şekilde azaldığı ve ölümün daha kısa sürede gerçekleştiği belirlenmiştir. İstatistiksel analizler, uygulamalar arasındaki farkların anlamlı olduğunu ortaya koymuş ve mikrodalga uygulamalarının güçlü bir doz–yanıt ilişkisi sergilediğini doğrulamıştır. Bulgular, mikrodalga radyasyonunun böceklerde ısıl stres oluşturarak hızlı ve etkili bir ölüm mekanizması sağladığını göstermektedir. Sonuç olarak, mikrodalga uygulamaları, kalıntı bırakmayan ve çevre dostu bir yöntem olarak T. molitor kontrolünde kimyasal mücadeleye alternatif veya tamamlayıcı bir strateji olarak değerlendirilebilir.

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Cite This Article

Kayahan, B. (2026). Microwave Radiation-Induced Mortality of Yellow Mealworm Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Bozok Tarım ve Doğa Bilimleri Dergisi, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 1, 10–20. https://doi.org/10.59128/bojans.1937412

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