COMPARISON OF BIOACTIVITIES OF NATIVE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH AGAINST TURKESTAN COCKROACH [BLATTA LATERALIS WALKER (BLATTODEA: BLATTIDAE)] NYMPHS

Cockroaches, Blatta lateralis Walker (Orthoptera: Blattidae) have been one of the important groups of insect pests in urban environments. In this study, it was investigated that the effects of different native diatomaceous earths samples against Turkestan cockroach, Blatta lateralis Walker (Blattodea: Blattidae) nymph in the laboratory conditions. For this purpose, three different diatomaceous earths (Turco000, Turca004 and Turco020), obtained from domestic sources, were tested in seven different doses (0.50 g/m(2), 0.75 g/m(2), 1 g/m(2), 1.25 g/m(2), 1.50 g/m(2), 1.75 g/m(2) and 2.00 g/m(2)). It was concluded that the increase in the application dose increased the mortality. Turco020 caused 100% mortality rate at the end of the 28th hour at the application dose of 1.25 g/m(2). Similarly, the dose of 1.25 g/m(2) of Turco004 and the dose of 0.75 g/m(2) of Turco000 at the same treatment period produced 100% mortality. Based on the statistical analysis, a positive interaction between particle size and biological activity was detected. These results showed that the diatomite obtained from local sources have an important role in the control of this household pest.