scholarly journals Intra- and interspecific interactions among Tribolium castaneum and Cryptolestes ferrugineus in stored wheat at different insect densities

2004 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj B. Hulasare ◽  
Noel D.G. White ◽  
Digvir S. Jayas ◽  
Colin J. Demianyk

Summary Cryptolestes ferrugineus and Tribolium castaneum are important economical pests of stored grain in Canada. Insects were reared separately or together on hard red spring wheat at three insect densities representing 1000, 500, and 250 adults per kilogram of wheat for single species and twice that of single densities for mixed species, in the laboratory (30°C, 70% RH). The experiment was conducted on dry (12% moisture content [MC], wet basis) and damp wheat (15% MC, wet basis). Adults were sampled every 2 weeks over a 10-week period. Sifted wheat was incubated at 30°C, 70% RH for 4 weeks to observe the number of adults emerging from immatures present under the seed coat of the wheat germ. All experiments were replicated four times. Initial insect densities, moisture content, and species combination had significant effects on the resulting adult population. Adult numbers for both species were higher on 15% MC wheat. In 12% MC wheat, T. castaneum numbers were higher than C. ferrugineus numbers when reared separately whereas this was reversed in 15% MC grain. Cryptolestes ferrugineus populations were significantly higher when reared with T. castaneum than when reared as a single species on 12% MC grain. The trend was reversed in 15% MC grain. At both grain moistures, T. castaneum numbers were higher as an isolated species compared to when reared with C. ferrugineus. The study suggested that T. castaneum populations were inhibited in the presence of C. ferrugineus. High insect density often accentuated these effects.

1978 ◽  
Vol 110 (12) ◽  
pp. 1281-1292 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. Smith

AbstractTwo metal granaries each containing 27.3 tonnes of dry wheat (13–14% m.c.) were artificially infested with Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) and sampled for up to 4 years to determine fluctuations in insect density as influenced by changes in grain temperature and moisture content during storage. Density remained low (fewer than 5 insects/kg) throughout the period of study. Most insects were found at the floor near the wall on the south side of the granary. The temperature in the centre of the grain mass ranged from −5° to 22 °C during the 4 years. During a single season, moisture content varied as much as 5% at the centre near the surface of each grain mass, but did not vary more than 1% at other locations. In the first year of storage, the viability of the wheat ranged from 80% to 96%, and after 3 years in storage, 68% to 100%. Since no significant change was recorded in the temperature, moisture content, or germination of the wheat in the granaries, it was concluded that the biological activity of a low density population of C. ferrugineus does not initiate heating that occasionally occurs in farm-stored grain in Canada.


2005 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.D.G. White ◽  
D.S. Jayas

Carbon dioxide can be used as an effective stored-grain fumigant in relatively air-tight bins. Carbon dioxide was added to wheat (Triticum aestivum) as a compressed gas and to barley (Hordeum vulgare) as a solid (dry ice) in 322-kg grain bulks. Wheat was stored at temperature decreasing from 18 to 10°C over a 12-wk period. Bins were left open, sealed without C02 added, or with C02 supplemented at 25,34, and 46% levels. Barley was stored at temperature decreasing from 25 to 20°C over an 8-wk period. Bins were left open, sealed without C02 added, or with C02 treatments of 23, 29, and 34%. The wheat and barley moisture content were 14.5-16.3% and 14.5-16.1%, respectively. Oxygen levels in the wheat reflected air displacement with C02, but lower O2 levels in the barley reflected a combination of air displacement by C02 and consumption of O2 by respiring grain and microorganisms at the warmer temperatures. The insects Cryptolestes ferrugineus and Tribolium castaneum were controlled in 2 wk at 34% C02 and 15% O2 at temperature decreasing from 18 to 10°C, or 29% C02 and 3% O2 at temperature decreasing from 25 to 20°C. The mites Tarsonemus granarius, Lepidoglyphus destructor, and Aeroglyphus robustus were killed in less than 2 wk at these C02 levels. Seed germination and microflora were unaffected by all gaseous environments.


1963 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 297-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon Surtees

The dispersion behaviour of Tribolium castaneum (Hbst.) and Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Steph.) was studied under controlled laboratory conditions. The effect of density, temperature and moisture content of grain on surface numbers was studied using groups of insects initially placed centrally in jars containing 500 g. wheat and vertical dispersion was studied by observing groups of insects in a thin plate of grain held vertically between two glass sheets. The underlying behaviour of group dispersion was studied, using isolated individuals. Over the range of conditions used (15–35°C, and 9–17 per cent. moisture content), 14–49 per cent. of groups of Tribolium and 0·2–4·0 per cent. of Cryptolestes appeared on the surface. Surface numbers in both species were depressed at each end of the temperature range. In the middle of the temperature range, more individuals of Tribolium were found on the surface in grain at 17 per cent. moisture content than at 9 per cent., the reverse being found with Cryptolestes.Analyses of locomotory activity in Tribolium showed that in all conditions females moved around less than males. For both sexes, activity was relatively depressed in the driest grain and at the lowest temperatures. Change in position within the grain was almost totally absent at 35°C. although locomotory activity remained relatively high. In Cryptolestes, locomotory activity was likewise depressed at the lowest temperature but both sexes moved around apparently at random in grain at 14 per cent. moisture and 30°C. In grain at 9 per cent. moisture, nearly all individuals became inactive within 24 hours. These results are discussed in relation to the onset and detection of infestation in grain and to the associations of grain-infesting species.


1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Throne

Rusty grain beetle (RGB), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), progeny production on undamaged corn kernels (Zea mays L.) and on artificially damaged kernels was investigated at varying moisture contents and initial insect densities. Only three adult progeny were produced on undamaged kernels in both tests. The number of adult progeny produced on damaged kernels increased as moisture content increased from 11.3 to 14.8%, but was still low. Initial insect densities of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, or 40 RGB on ten kernels of corn did not affect the low number of progeny produced on damaged kernels. These results indicate that even though a high proportion of stored corn contains breaks in the seed coat, growth of RGB populations would be slow if the corn is otherwise intact and is stored at or below 14.8% moisture content.


2000 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G. Fields ◽  
Zlatko Korunic

AbstractGranary trials to determine the efficacy of an enhanced diatomaceous earth (DE) formulation (Protect-It™) at 0.15 kg DE/t grain to control grain-feeding beetles in barley, Hordeum vulgare L. (Poaceae), were conducted at Glenlea, Manitoba. During the test, the grain moisture content ranged from 11 to 13%, and grain temperature ranged from 27 to 2 °C. The bulk density of barley was reduced 10–20 kg/m3 by the addition of diatomaceous earth. Adults of the rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), were released onto the top surface of the grain of each granary, producing an average density of approximately 4 insects/kg grain. Using Berlese funnels to extract insects from grain samples there was a 95% reduction in adults and an 80% reduction in larvae found in treated grain compared with untreated grain, 1 month after releasing insects into the grain. There was a 95% or greater decrease in the total number of insects caught with probe pitfall traps in the treated barley compared with the untreated barley for all sampling dates. For the confined populations, 200 adult C. ferrugineus or Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (red flour beetle) were held in screened jars in the grain until the end of October, and there was over a 99% reduction in both insect species, compared with insects held on untreated grain. These results indicate that this diatomaceous earth formulation can control C. ferrugineus in barley in granaries at 0.15 kg DE/t grain.


1995 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noel D.G. White ◽  
Colin J. Demianyk ◽  
Hitoshi Kawamoto ◽  
Ranendra N. Sinha

AbstractCryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) and C. pusillus (Schönherr) were reared separately at initial densities of 20 or 40 adults each and together at an initial density of 20 adults/100 g cracked wheat or cracked maize at 35, 30, 25, and 20°C and 70% r.h. for developmental periods of 10, 11, 16, or 40 weeks, respectively. Intraspecific competition in the 40-adult treatments restricted population growth to levels similar to 20-adult treatments for each species; impact was greatest for C. pusillus on maize at 30°, where the population of the 40-adult treatment was less than half that of the 20-adult treatment. Both species produced larger populations on wheat than on maize, except for C. pusillus at 35°C; mortality for both species was high on wheat at 35°C. Interspecific competition resulted in significantly reduced populations relative to single species populations for both C. ferrugineus at 30, 25, and 20°C and C. pusillus at 35, 30, and 25°C on wheat and for C. ferrugineus at 25 and 20°C and C. pusillus at 35, 30, and 25°C on maize. During interspecific competition, C. ferrugineus was more successful in multiplying at 35 and 30°C on wheat and 35°C on maize; both species multiplied equally well at 25°C on wheat or 30 and 25°C on maize; C. pusillus multiplied best at 20°C on both wheat and maize. Cryptolestes pusillus reproduces more effectively alone or in interspecific competition under cool conditions, although C. ferrugineus occurs with much greater frequency in cool Canadian stored grain, probably because of cold-hardiness and winter survival


2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (04) ◽  
pp. 243-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Adarkwah ◽  
Daniel Obeng-Ofori ◽  
Vanessa Hörmann ◽  
Christian Ulrichs ◽  
Matthias Schöller

Abstract Food losses caused by insects during postharvest storage are of paramount economic importance worldwide, especially in Africa. Laboratory bioassays were conducted in stored grains to determine the toxicity of powders of Eugenia aromatica and Moringa oleifera alone or combined with enhanced diatomaceous earth (Probe-A® DE, 89.0% SiO2 and 5% silica aerogel) to adult Sitophilus granarius, Tribolium castaneum and Acanthoscelides obtectus. Adult mortality was observed up to 7 days, while progeny production was recorded at 6–10 weeks. LD50 and LT50 values for adult test insects exposed to plant powders and DE, showed that A. obtectus was the most susceptible towards the botanicals (LD50 0.179% and 0.088% wt/wt for E. aromatica and M. oleifera, respectively), followed by S. granarius. Tribolium castaneum was most tolerant (LD50 1.42% wt/wt and 1.40% wt/wt for E. aromatica and M. oleifera, respectively). The combined mixture of plant powders and DE controlled the beetles faster compared to the plant powders alone. LT50 ranged from 55.7 h to 62.5 h for T. castaneum exposed to 1.0% M. oleifera and 1.0% DE, and 0.5% E. aromatica and 1.0% DE, respectively. Botanicals caused significant reduction of F1 adults compared to the control. Combined action of botanical insecticides with DE as a grain protectant in an integrated pest management approach is discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tabassum Ara Khanum ◽  
Salma Javed

Abstract Background Stored grain products suffer a considerable economic loss due to insect infestations. The resistance of pests to insecticide, and residues on crops are produced by the application of insecticide. Nowadays, incremental necessity has been occurred to find out alternatives to chemicals. As biological control agents, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) attract attention increasingly in the research area recently. Results The aim of the study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Pakistani isolates Steinernema bifurcatum and S. affine against the stored grain pests, Tribolium castaneum and Lasioderma serricorne, under laboratory conditions. Suspensions of nematodes were applied at 4 different concentrations 0, 50, 100, and 200 IJs/ml and 3 variable temperatures 15, 30, and 45°C. Pathogenicity rate was recorded after 48 h of application. The larval stage is found more susceptible than the adult. At 200 IJs, S. bifurcatum showed high mortality of L. serricorne larva (92%) and T. castaneum larva (93%), whereas S. affine showed 90 and 95% mortality of L. serricorne and T. castaneum larva, respectively, at 200 IJs. The results revealed that both species of EPN were able to control and reproduce on L. serricorne and T. castaneum. Maximum mortality was recorded at 45 °C from S. bifurcatum whereas S. affine at 15 °C. Conclusions Therefore, S. bifurcatum and S. affine could be suggested as a biological control agent for hot and cold climatic zones, respectively.


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 431-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. N. SINHA

Infestation potential of 16 cultivars of flax, mustard, rape, sunflower, millet, and clover seeds to five common species of stored-product insects was determined. When multiplication was used as a criterion, whole seeds were resistant to insect attack although minor infestation occurred on certain cultivars. Although some species of insects could complete development on certain cultivars, few could reproduce well on clover and mustard cultivars. Oilseeds were more susceptible to Oryzaephilus mercator than to any other insect species. Cryptolestes ferrugineus, which thrived on the millet cultivars Crown and Siberian, neither reproduced nor completed development on any of the oilseed and forage cultivars. All cultivars of crushed Noralta, Raja, and Redwood flax were susceptible to: O. mercator, O. surinamensis, and Tribolium castaneum; Echo and Target rape only to O. mercator; Armavirec, Krasnodarets, Mennonite, and Peredovic sunflowers to all insects except C. ferrugineus; and Crown and Siberian millet to all insects. Tribolium confusum reproduced only on sunflower and millet cultivars. The potential danger of stored oilseeds in Western Canada from a new pest, O. mercator, was evaluated.


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