Recent advances in the control of insects in stored products with microwaves

Dynamic high-power tests at 28 GHz indicate that mortality of adults and larvae of Sitophilus zeamais in soft white wheat while flowing through a test applicator is 100% for adults and old larvae and >99% for young larvae at specific load energies over a range of 20 to 75 J/g and minimum product temperatures of approximately 36, 44 and 52 °C respectively. Static tests at 28 GHz indicate that mortality is solely dependent on input energy and independent of exposure time for periods ≥1/2 s. Additionally, static tests at 14.25 GHz with constant energy input show that lower limits exist for exposure time per unit mass of product This limit may be facility and frequency specific.