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Mnogim vrstama biljaka koje se koriste kako svježe tako i sušene za pripremu čajeva ili raznih tekućina pripisuju se ljekovita svojstva. Stoga se takvo bilje najčešće naziva ljekovito bilje. Danas je često u uporabi i izraz biljne infuzije što su zapravo biljni čajevi napravljeni od svježih ili suhih listova, cvijeća, korijenja ili sjemenja različitih vrsta biljaka. Tijekom pregleda raznih uzoraka ljekovitog bilja, kao i skladišta i proizvodnih pogona najčešće smo nalazili, bakrenastog moljca (Plodia interpunctella Hbn.), duhanovog moljca (Ephestia elutella Hbn.), krušara (Stegobium paniceum (F.)) iduhanara (Lasioderma serricome (L.)), kao uzročnike šteta. Cilj rada je predstaviti vrste štetnika, ukazati na važnost njihove prisutnosti, predložiti načine za određivanje nazočnosti štetnih kukaca i njihovo suzbijanje te postupke koje valja obavljati tijekom prerade i uskladištenja kako bi se spriječile štete. Feromone i svjetlosne mamce potrebno je koristiti za određivanje nazočnosti štetnika u skladištu. Za uspješno čuvanje ljekovitog bilja potrebno je imati skladišta izgrađena od kvalitetnih materijala radi održavanja ujednačene temperature u skladištu i jednostavnog održavanja čistoće i urednosti. Mjere suzbijanja valja obavljati preventivno u praznom skladištu, a za tretiranje uskladištene robe potrebno je imati odvojenu prostoriju. Za suzbijanje štetnika na ljekovitom bilju preporučuje se koristiti CO2 pod visokim tlakom u odgovarajućim čeličnim odjeljcima iako se mogu koristiti i sredstva koja oslobađaju plin fosfin.

Tijekom zadnjih nekoliko desetljeća sintetički insekticidi su bili u širokoj i standardnoj uporabi u suzbijanju štetnika u poljoprivredi. Međutim, saznanjem o sve štetnijim posljedicama na ljudsko zdravlje i okoliš sve više je jačala potreba za uporabom sigurnijih i gotovo bezopasnih postupaka suzbijanja štetnika. Stoga saznanja o svojstvima biljnih insekticida postupno uvode te pesticide u programe zaštite bilja i biljnih proizvoda od raznih štetnika. Biljni insekticidi imaju širok spektar djelovanja poput insekticidne aktivnosti, repelentnosti, smanjuju prehranu insekata biljkama (antifeedancy), posjeduju svojstva za regulaciju rasta insekata, toksični su na nematode, grinje, puževe i razne druge štetnike poljoprivrednog bilja. Isto tako pojedini biljni pesticidi djelotvorni su na gljivice, viruse i na bakterije. Toksičnost na razne druge organizme je promjenljiva premda, kao skupina manje su toksični na sisavce, s iznimkom nikotina, u usporedbi s insekticidima iz drugih skupina. U pravilu, biljni insekticidi brzo se razgrađuju u usporedbi sa sintetičkim insekticidima pa je mišljenje da su relativno znatno manje opasni za korisne organizme u odnosu na pesticide sa sporijom razgradnjom. Ti pesticidi se trebaju primjenjivati češće u odnosu na sintetičke pesticide budući da se većina njih razgrađuje tijekom nekoliko dana pa čak i nekoliko sati. Češća uporaba kao i viši troškovi proizvodnje čine te pesticide skupljim u odnosu na sintetičke pesticide. Unatoč spoznaje da brojne biljne vrste imaju supstancije (aktivne tvari) s insekticidnim svojstvima, u uporabi je samo nekoliko pesticida dobivenih izravno iz biljaka (piretrin, neem, rotenon, derris, quassia i dr.) zbog toga što je komercijalizacija novih botaničkih insekticida ograničena brojnim razlozima.

Najčešća su ograničenja uporabe sredstava za zaštitu bilja ili biocidnih proizvoda zbog spoznaje da aktivne tvari imaju negativne posljedice na ljudsko zdravlje ili okoliš, ali i zbog pojave otpornosti štetnih organizama. Najpoznatija prva ograničenja i zabrane odnose se na primjenu aktivne tvari DDT te drugih kloriranih ugljikovodika, a od tada se to događa sve češće neovisno jesu li to insekticidi, fungicidi, herbicidi, rodenticidi ili neka druga skupina pesticida. Posljedice ograničenja ili zabrane u svakodnevnoj uporabi nisu uvijek predvidljive, ali se prihvaćaju, a da nije poznato kakav utjecaj će imati na suzbijanje štetnih organizama u svakodnevnoj praksi.

The insecticidal effect of new developed insecticide formulations labelled as Natural P, Inert Natural P and Py EC on Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) have been evaluated on wheat grains. Formulation Natural P contains diatomaceous earth (DE), amorphous silica gel (3%), pyrethrin, flax oil, lavandin essential oil (EO) and un-activated yeast. Formulation Inert Natural P combines DE, amorphous silica gel, lavandin EO and food grade bait whereas formulation Py EC contains pyrethrin, piperonyl butoxide (PBO), flax oil, polysorbate, methyl oleate and amorphous silica gel (5%). DE Celatom® MN-51 was used as a standard insecticide. Inert Natural P and Natural P were applied as dust at four different doses, while Py EC was mixed with water in 4 dilutions containing 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 ppm of pyrethrin a.i. and applied as emulsions on grain by spraying. The LD50 and LD90 values of Inert Natural P were 48.72 and 163.73 ppm respectively for S. oryzae, 15.18 and 177.96 ppm for R. dominica and 115.20 and 171.30 ppm for T. castaneum. The LD50 and LD90 values of Natural P were 53.56 and 97.94 ppm respectively for S. oryzae, 19.47 and 53.05 ppm for R. dominica and 75.40 and 105.60 ppm for T. castaneum. While the LD50 and LD90 values of DE Celatom® MN-51 were 188.55 and 352.79 ppm respectively for S. oryzae, 39.86 and 405.420 ppm for R. dominica and 358.10 and 716.87 ppm for T. castaneum. Comparing with DE Celatom® MN-51 two powder formulations applied at effective concentrations had lower impact on wheat test weight reduction. Applied Py EC at concentration of 2.0 ppm a.i. pyrethrin exhibited 100 % mortality after 2 days of S. oryzae and T. castaneum and after 6 days of R. dominica. In addition, all three formulations caused significant reduction of F1 adults compared to control, providing promising approach of integrated pest management strategy.

A mixture of diatomaceous earth (DE) and deltamethrin (DM) was developed to control stored-grain insect pests. The formulation contains a low quantity of DE and small amounts of insecticide deltamethrin technical powder dissolved in solvent and soap. This study was initiated in order to determine how long the mixture DE/DM will provide acceptable protection against infestation by the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), when applied to hard red spring wheat (HRSW) and stored under normal storage conditions. Immediately after treatment, all three species were controlled at 100 milligram per kg or parts per million (ppm) of DE/DM mixture. At 100 ppm, DE/DM mixture provided 100% population reduction of all three species for up to 12 months with little or no progeny produced.

Štetnici oštećuju sirovine i hranu u skladištima i trgovinama. Do trgovine štetnici se šire od skladišta sirovina ili prijevoznim sredstvima. Ovdje će biti rasprava o kukcima, grinjama, glodavcima i pticama najčešćim štetnicima žitarica i proizvoda, leguminoza (grah, soja, leća), čokoladnih proizvoda, ljekovitog bilja, mirodija i sušenog voća. Na policama u skladištu ili trgovini razne robe stoje jedne kraj drugih i moguć je prelazak štetnika s jedne vrste robe na drugu. Nazočnost se može odrediti na razne načine feromonskim klopkama, hranidbenim mamcima, UV zrakama i dr. Sustavnog istraživanja i monitoringa kojim bi se odredila nazočnost štetnika na hrani u skladištima i trgovinama kod nas nema. Može se pretpostaviti da je stanje bolje nego prije tridesetak godina jer kontrolirana temperatura u skladištima omogućuje bolje uvjete skladištenja. U trgovinama u ljetnim mjesecima koriste se uređaji za klimatizaciju, pa niže temperature umanjuju mogućnost razvoja štetnika.

Priručnik je plod autora koji se godinama bave registracijom sredstava za zaštitu bilja, kontrolama sredstava za zaštitu bilja nakon registracije i kontrolama ostataka pesticida u hrani, štetnicima bilja, uzročnicima bolesti i korovima te mjerama za njihovo suzbijanje, skladištenjem, sigurnim rukovanjem i pravilnom primjenom sredstava za zaštitu bilja te strojevima za njihovu primjenu. Cilj autora je objediniti na jednom mjestu nastavno gradivo koje treba biti obuhvaćeno izobrazbom profesionalnih korisnika pesticida, distributera i savjetnika u skladu s Prilogom I. Direktive 2009/128/EZ.

Pojava rezistencije štetnika uskladištenih poljoprivrednih proizvoda i hrane (prerađevine žitarica) na insekticide predstavlja sve veći izazov u izboru odgovarajućih metoda suzbijanja. Gledano u svjetskim razmjerima, gotovo da ne postoji skupina insekticida za koje nije dokazan neki oblik rezistencije, a transportom roba i širenjem tržišta po cijelom svijetu može se očekivati širenje rezistentnih populacija i u zemlje u kojima ih do sada nije bilo. Trenutno, najviše podataka o postojanju rezistencije kod štetnika uskladištenih poljoprivrednih proizvoda i hrane evidentirano je za bakrenastog moljca - Plodia interpunctella (Hbn.) i kestenjastog brašnara - Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Bitno je da samo mudrom primjenom insekticida različitih mehanizama djelovanja iz različitih kemijskih skupina pokušamo rezistentnost spriječiti, odgoditi ili kontrolirati. U Hrvatskoj nije bilo istraživanja kojima bi se dokazala rezistentnost štetnika uskladištenih poljoprivrednih proizvoda i hrane te ne možemo sa sigurnošću tvrditi niti da imamo niti da nemamo rezistentnih populacija uzrokovanih čestom uporabom istog insekticida ili uporabom insekticida iz iste skupine.

Methyl bromide (CH3Br) is used in soil fumigation to control pests, weeds and diseases in the production of seedlings of vegetables, flowers, tobacco etc. in the world. In Croatia, use of methyl bromide was approved in 1965 only for soil fumigation in the production of tobacco seedlings. According to the Montreal Protocol CH3Br is on the list of ozone depleting substances. Hence, its use is allowed only until 2005 in developed countries, and until 2015 in developing countries, with certain restrictions upon its application. In EU, use of CH3Br was banned in 2001. Pursuant to the directive of the Ministry of Agriculture use of CH3Br in Croatia is allowed in the tobacco seedling production until 31 December 2005. This prompted research into new seedling production technologies without CH3Br in order to prevent its adverse effect on the ozone layer, as well as to avoid leaching of bromine salts into groundwater. Research was started by the Tobacco Institute and was intensified with the support of UNIDO and now tobacco producers produce seedlings without applying CH3Br. The results of the experiment have shown that in our pedoclimatic conditions seedlings of good quality can be produced on the plots where methyl bromide was used or with floating tray system as an alternative for the methyl bromide. Seedlings produced on the floating tray system were equally developed and of equal quality. The acceptance, growing and development of such plants in the field were better. Tobacco yield obtained of seedlings from floating tray system was higher and of better quality compared to the tobacco obtained from seedlings grown on plots treated with methyl bromide.

Stručnjaci iz cijelog svijeta rado dolaze na konferenciju o fumigantima i feromonima koja se naizmjenično održava u SAD i Europi svake dvije godine, pa je tako bilo i na jubilarnoj 10. Konferenciji kad ih je bilo 222 iz 44 zemlje. Predavanja je održalo 15 stručnjaka tijekom prva dva dana konferencije, a treći dan je bila radionica tijekom koje se moglo upoznati s izvedbom fumigacije, zamagljivanja, opremom za monitoring, primjenom feromona i dr. Radni naslov konferencije bio je „Upravljanje štetnicima u svijetu“. Predavanja su bila o sigurnosti hrane i razlikama u načinu proizvodnje između raznih zemalja, problemima kod nalaza proizvoda loše kakvoće zbog aktivnosti štetnika, postupcima za smanjenje prigovora potrošača, o posljedicama zabrane uporabe metil bromida i korištenju zamjenskih tehnologija, čuvanje roba u Srednjoj i Zapadnoj Africi, o statusu sulfuril fluorida kao zamjeni za metil bromid i posljedicama njegove zabrane, očuvanju imena (brand-a), o ponašanju glodavaca i postupcima suzbijanja, primjeni toplinskog postupka i kontrolirane atmosfere, o feromonima skladišnih štetnika, integriranim mjerama pri suzbijanju grinja na sjemenu, novim tehnologijama u suzbijanju štetnika u skladištu te prednostima koje pruža poznavanje molekularnih mehanizama skladišnih štetnika.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which include some pesticides are very important environment pollutants. Their harmful impact is mainly consisted of their air transmission, resistance to chemical-, photo- and bio-degradation and possibility of their accumulation in fat tissue of all living organisms. From the POPs group of chemicals commonly used were preparations based on twelve active ingredients: hexachlorobenzene (HCB), camphechlor (toxaphen), endrin, aldrin, dieldrin, heptachlor, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH), DDT, lindan, hexachlorobutadiene, mirex and dicofol. Because of their high efficacy in the middle of 20th Century their consumption was very high. In the meantime their negative impacts appeared and their harmfulness becomes well known. Due to mentioned 12 pesticide active ingredients were covered with Stockholm Convention in order to restrict or eliminate their production. As a result gradual prohibition of their usage started from 1972 (aldrin, dieldrin, hexachlorocyclohexane, DDT) and ended in 2001. with prohibition of lindan and dicofol usage. Up to date all of them are banned from production and application and no stockpiles are detected in Croatia. In the period of their commonly usage production of POP's pesticides in Croatia was mainly based as supplement to some fertilizers (aldrin). Today there are no need for their production, since all preparations based on POPs are now substituted with numerous toxicologically much more favorable active ingredients. Also there is no import and export of POPs in Croatia, with exception for some institutions which have import permission for small quantities used as laboratory standards for determination of residual POPs pesticides. Today in Croatia residues of POP's pesticides are monitored only in water with pronounced need for adequately equipped laboratories and trained stuff for their monitoring in vegetable, animal, water, soil and human biomaterial.

This study was initiated in order to determine how long several grain protectants will provide acceptable protection against the adults and the progeny of Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), when applied to clean eastern white winter wheat containing 13.6% moisture content. The following insecticides were in the experiment: mixture of diatomaceous earth (DE) and deltamethrin (DM) (DE/DM insecticide) applied at 100 ppm containing 90 ppm of DE and 0.1 ppm of deltamethrin active ingredient (a.i.) ; spinosad technical 92% powder applied at 1 ppm a.i. ; mixture of chlorpyrifos methyl (CM) and deltamethrin (DM), formulation Storicide II applied at 3 ppm CM and 0.5 ppm DM a.i. ; pirimiphos methyl, formulation Actellic 5 E applied at 10 ppm ai. In the USA, Actellic 5E is primary registered as a grain protectant on corn and Storicide II on wheat, however, in some European countries, Actellic is registered on wheat, as well. Bioassays were initiated immediately after treatment (zero day), 30, 120 and 180 days after the initial treatment and were conducted under the same conditions. The results demonstrate that, under the grain storage conditions and bioassays implementation, treatment of wheat with 100 ppm of DE/DM mixture and 3 ppm of CM and 0.5 ppm of DM (Storicide II) provided effective protection against the adults and the progeny of S. oryzae, R. dominica and T. castaneum during the investigating period of 6 months. However, 10 ppm of pirimiphos methyl (Actellic 5E) didn't control the adults of R. dominica and T. castaneum, and 1 ppm of spinosad didn’t control the adults and the progeny of S.oryzae and T. castaneum, immediately after the treatment and 180 days after the grain treatment, as well.

Od 29. lipnja do 02. srpnja 2009. na Agronomskom faultetu Sveučilišta Molise u Campobassu (Italija) održana je međunarodna konferencija IOBC/WPRS (OILB/SROP) radne grupe o integriranoj zaštiti uskladištenih proizvoda (»International Conference IOBC/WPRS (OILB/SROP) Working Group Integrated Protection of Stored Products«). Na konferenciji se u sklopu 7 sekcija govorilo o trenutnom stanju i novim trendovima u zaštiti uskladištenih proizvoda, načinima provedbe monitoringa, uzorkovanja i hvatanja skladištenih štetnika, primjeni semiokemikalija, bioloških mjera zaštite, fitokemikalijama, fumigaciji, kontroliranoj i modificiranoj atmosferi, kao i o primjeni ekstremnih temperatura, kemijskoj zaštiti i inertnim prašivima, integriranim mjerama zaštite, te o metodama prevencije i zakonskim legislativama. Učestvovalo je 226 vrsnih svjetskih stručnjaka iz 32 zemlje svijeta, koji su svoja dostignuća prezentirali kroz 48 usmenih izlaganja, te 49 posterskih prezentacija.

Production of tobacco seedlings involves soil de sinfection with methyl bromide, which is ozone-depleting substances. The substitution of methyl bromide with the usage of flating tray system has positive effect on ozone layer protection, prevention of bromide leaching into ground water and increase of yield and quality of tobacco produced in Croatia.

U Hrvatskoj suzbijanje štetnih kukaca uskladištenih zrnatih proizvoda s prirodnim insekticidom spinosadom (derivat bakterije aktinomiceta Saccharopolyspora spinosa) do sad se još ne provodi. Spinosad pod imenima Laser (KS) 24% i Success Bait (KS) 24 g/L + atraktant u nas se koristi za suzbijanje kukaca stetnika voća i povrća tijekom vegetacije. Ovim istraživanjem htjela se je utvrditi djelotvornost spinosad formulacije LASER SC na skladišne kukce Sitophilus granarius (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) u laboratorijskim uvjetima. Pšenice sa sadržajem vlage od 13% je bila obrađena s koncentracijama 0, 0 ; 0, 5 ; 1, 0 i 1, 5 ppm spinosad djelotvorne tvari. Nakon unošenja kukaca u posude s obrađenom pšenicom (3 ponavljanja sa po 50 odraslih insekata u svakom ponavljanju), posude su držane na 30+10C and 70+5% relativne vlage zraka. Ocjenom rezultata, utvrđeno je da je 100%-tni mortalitet S. granarius postignut s koncentracijom od 1, 0 ppm nakon 7 dana, a s koncentracijom 0, 5 ppm nakon 26 dana ekspozicije odraslih kukaca na obrađenoj pšenici. Koncentracija od 0, 5 ppm nije bila dovoljna za suzbijanje potomstva ove vrste. Kod vrste R. dominica 100%-tni mortalitet postignut je nakon 26 dana s koncentracijom 0, 5 ppm. Koncentracijom 0, 5 ppm potomstvo ove vrste je bilo 100%-tno suzbijeno. Koncentracija od 0.5 ppm je izazvala 100%-tni mortalitet odraslih i potomstva vrste C. ferrugineus. T. castaneum je bio najtolerantniji na djelovanje spinosada. Koncentracija od 1, 5 ppm nakon ekspozicije od 26 dana izazvala je 86, 1%-tnu smrtnost odraslih kukaca.. Koncentracije 0, 5 ppm smanjila je populaciju potomstva za 95, 5%. Spinosad formulacija Laser SC u koncentraciji od 1 i 1, 5 ppm aktivne substance uspješno može suzbijati odrasle oblike i potomstvo S. granarius, koncentracija od 0.5 ppm suzbija odrasle i potomstvo vrsta R. dominica i C. ferrugineus. Za uspješno suzbijanje potomstva T. castaneum potrebno je rabiti koncentraciju od 1 ppm a za suzbijanje odraslih oblika koncentraciju višu od 1.5 ppm.

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a geological deposit consisting of the fossilized skeletons of numerous species of siliceous marine and fresh water one-cellular organisms, particularly diatoms and other algae. The skeletons are made of amorphous silicon dioxide. DE is probably the most effective natural inert dust used as an insecticide. DE is a low toxicity, natural insecticide. Several formulations of DE are registered and used as stored product protection insecticides around the world. The objective of the research was determination of the potential insecticide effectiveness of Croatian DE against stored products pests and the comparison of their effectiveness with the effectiveness of standard DE sample. One sample of the Croatian DE was selected and investigated. As a standard DE sample, the German fresh water DE SilicoSec was included into the experiment. SilicoSec formulation is registered as a grain protectant and belongs into a group of the most effective DEs in the world. The effectiveness of particle size fractions of the Croatian DE from most to least effective is: 0-20 microns (μm), 0-45μm 0- 150μm, 20-45μm and 45-150μm. The Croatian DE sample applied at 600mg/kg containing particle size 0-45μm showed with over 90% mortality after 1 day for Cryptolestes ferrugineus, after 3 days for Sitophilus oryzae, after 7 days for Rhyzopertha dominica and after 25 days for Tribolium castaneum. SilicoSec caused 100% mortality these insects at the same or shorter time periods The effectiveness of the Croatian DE containing particles smaller than 45μm was equally effective against the progeny if compared with the effectiveness of the standard DE. The authors conclude that Croatia has potential sources of DEs for ecological acceptable insecticide production and it is important to find new localities with even better sources of DEs. It can be a new safe and natural insecticide product from Croatia.

Mogućnost primjene propolisa u zaštiti bilja u nas nije istraživana. Neki autori u svijetu istraživali su djelovanje propolisa na neke štetnike i bolesti različitih kultura (Pecchiai 1981, Garofalo 1981). U ovome radu ispitali smo djelovanje propolisa na kukce Sitophilus spp. i Cryptolestes spp. Za tretiranje je korištena alkoholna otopina propolisa u dozama od 0,38 do 38,30 ml/kg pšenice. Na Sitophilus spp. propolis je djelovao samo u vidu smanjenja potomstva nakon 12 tjedana. Na Cryptolestes spp. propolis je pokazao repelentno-odbijajuće djelovanje. Pošto je propolis neotrovan za ljude, a odbijajućim djelovanjem čuva predatore i parazite štetnih kukaca, njegovu djelotvornost valjalo bi dalje ispitati.

Satellite DNAs and heterochomatic regions of tenebrionid species Tenebrio molitor, Tenebrio obscurus, Palorus ratzeburgii and Alphitobius diaperinus were investigated by several cytogenetical methods: C-banding, staining with fluorochrome DAPI, in situ hybridization, in situ restriction digestion and in situ nick translation.

The use of natural products has been emerging as one of the prime means to protect crops and their products and the environment from pesticide pollution, which is a global problem. Natural products possess a spectrum of properties including insecticidal activity, repellence to pests, antifeedancy, insect growth regulation, toxicity to mites, and other pests of the agricultural importance. Also they possess antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties against pathogens. More significant use of natural products in practice will be possible if they are compatible with the following principles: safe, low toxicity, easy for application, minimal (or nil) problems with insecticide residues on foods, high efficacy at very low concentrations against stored grain insects, adult pests and their progeny, wide spectrum of efficacy against stored grain insect pests and field pests, low adverse effects on grain handling and quality properties, and acceptable in terms of price. Pronounced and multiple synergic modes of action substantially reduce or remove the need for synthetic chemical active ingredients, which reduces application and incidental exposure to these chemicals. Demonstrably safer natural products have advantage in the market where there is a growing aversion to conventional chemical products. In Croatia there is ongoing research on the development of new formulations of natural insecticides based on inert dusts and botanical insecticides and their combinations.

The objective of this study was to determine the potential insecticide efficacy of several Croatian diatomite samples (as inert dusts) against Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) adults and to compare their efficacy with the efficacy of the USA standard diatomaceous earth (DE) Celatom Mn 51. DE Mn 51 belongs to a group of DE with medium to increased efficacy for stored agricultural products insects. Six Croatian samples from three different locations (MA-4, MR-10, MR-10B, OP-4, OP-4A and PD-1) were selected and prepared for testing with fractions of particles ≤45 µm and applied at 500 mg/kg. Insect mortality was recorded after 7 and 14 days. The highest lethal effect after 7 and 14 days showed Croatian sample MA-4 with 97 % and 100 % mortality respectively for S. oryzae, 61.5 % and 99 % mortality respectively for T. castaneum and 26.5 % and 34 % respectively for R. dominica. In all treatments the efficacy of MA-4 was in the same range with the efficacy of the standard DE Mn 51. The other five tested samples had significant lower efficacy regarding to MA-4, although after 14 days mortality was 85.7 - 98 % for S. oryzae, 5 – 47 % for T. castaneum and 2 – 5 % for R. dominica depending on a different DE sample. These results show that Croatia has potential diatomite deposits with good and promising efficiency for tested insects.