Damage potential of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on cocoa beans: Effect of initial adult population density and post infestation storage time

In the current study it was investigated the suitability of semolina, cracked wheat and cracked maize as feeding commodities for the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). The pest completed its development on all tested commodities. The developmental time of larvae was lower on cracked wheat (59.6 days) and cracked maize (54.6 days) compared to semolina (72.8 days). The developmental time of pupae did not differ significantly among tested commodities, ranging from 6.2 to 6.6 days. Female and male longevities were 70.9 and 77.1 days, 92.2 and 77.9 days and 177.0 and 183.7 days, when T. castaneum was fed on semolina, cracked wheat and cracked maize, respectively. The highest fecundity (28.7 eggs/female) was recorded when T. castaneum was fed on semolina, followed by cracked wheat (2.7 eggs/female) and cracked maize (1.2 eggs/female). The prolonged adult longevity, which was observed on cracked maize, may be attributed to the absence of the cost of reproduction, due to low fecundity on this commodity. The values of the intrinsic rate of increase were 0.014 and −0.021 females/female/day when it was fed on semolina and cracked wheat, respectively, while no demographic analysis was carried out for cracked maize due to high early larval mortality and low fecundity on this commodity. The net reproductive rate and mean generation time were 6.19 females/female and 127.5 days and 0.16 females/female and 91.9 days, when it was fed on semolina and cracked wheat, respectively. Based on demographic analysis, T. castaneum population growth is favored only on semolina. We expect semolina to act as a suitable commodity for T. castaneum, while cracked wheat and cracked maize allow only its survival by acting as alternative commodities. The estimated demographic parameters of T. castaneum on the tested commodities could be used as a useful tool to predict its population outcome in storage facilities.

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Suitability of Semolina, Cracked Wheat and Cracked Maize as Feeding Commodities for Tribolium castaneum (Herbst; Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Skourti

Kavallieratos

Papanikolaou

2020

“…The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), are two major beetle pests commonly found infesting stored grain worldwide. Both species can cause severe economic loss due to decreasing the quantity and quality of stored seeds, as well as the cost of treatment and preventative measures [ 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ]. This is compounded by their potential to develop resistance to both fumigants [ 2 , 4 , 12 , 13 ] and grain protectant insecticides [ 3 , 6 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial Distribution and Flight Patterns of Two Grain Storage Insect Pests, Rhyzopertha dominica (Bostrichidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Tenebrionidae): Implications for Pest Management

Holloway

Daglish²,

Mayer³

2020

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica, and the rust red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, are two major beetle pests commonly found infesting stored products worldwide. Both species can cause severe economic damage and their management is complicated by their potential to develop resistance to several of the limited chemical options available. However, pest management strategies can be improved by understanding the ecology of the pest insect. To determine the spatiotemporal activity of R. dominica and T. castaneum, we conducted a trapping study over two years in a temperate region of south-eastern Australia, with traps located near grain storages and fields. We captured higher numbers of R. dominica than T. castaneum, and both species were more prevalent in traps located close to grain storages. Similar and consistent seasonal patterns were displayed by both species with activity ceasing during the winter (June–August) months. We found linear correlations between maximum daily temperatures and trap catches, and minimum threshold temperatures for flight activity were 14.5 °C and 15.6 °C for R. dominica and T. castaneum, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to the ecology of these pests along with their implications for pest management.

“…The red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) is a serious pest of a large spectrum of stored products. Although this species prefers flours and milled products, it has been also recorded on a variety of cereals and other raw commodities such as legumes, nuts, spices, grains, oilseeds, cottonseeds, spices, dried fruits, pulses, cocoa beans, and processed foods [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. Tribolium castaneum causes serious quantitative and qualitative losses of stored products throughout the world [ 19 , 20 , 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Is Fitness of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Affected When Different Developmental Stages Are Exposed to Chlorfenapyr?

Skourti

Kavallieratos

Papanikolaou

2020

Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) is an important pest of stored products. Insecticidal treatment is a common practice for the control of this notorious insect pest. Most studies are focused on the immediate and/or delayed mortality effects, while there are no data on the effects of insecticides on the population fitness. This study deals with the effect of chlorfenapyr on T. castaneum, investigating the cost of exposure of different developmental stages on population performance, by using life table statistics and a survival analysis method. For this purpose, eggs, larvae, and parental adult females of T. castaneum were exposed to chlorfenapyr and birth or death rates were calculated daily. The exposure of eggs and larvae to chlorfenapyr was detrimental for T. castaneum and they did not complete development. When parental females were exposed to chlorfenapyr, the progeny survival curve, biological features, as well as the life table parameters did not differ significantly compared to the control treatment. Thus, egg hatching, larval and pupal developmental periods, female and male longevities for the control treatment, and the progeny of the females that were exposed to chlorfenapyr were 4.66 and 4.76 days, 25.85 and 25.71 days, 5.00 and 5.26 days, 87.33 and 104.22 days, and 76.87 and 91.87 days, respectively. In addition, the mean values of the net reproductive rate, the intrinsic rate of increase, the mean generation time and the doubling time for the control treatment and the progeny of the parental females which were exposed to chlorfenapyr were 14.3 and 9.3 females/female, 0.038 and 0.028 females/female/day, 1.039 and 1.029, 70.0 and 76.9 days, and 18.5 and 24.9 days, respectively. We expect these results to have bearing on the management of T. castaneum, since the repeatedly insecticidal applications could be reduced in storage facilities.