Studies on food preferences of maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Mots. to different crops in Chitwan, Nepal

Abstract

Food preference by the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky was studied on seven different crops and varieties including maize, wheat and rice. They were maize cultivars namely Arun-2, Manakamana-4, Deuti, buckwheat local cultivar, wheat cultivar namely Annapurna-1, polished rice-Radha 4 and unshelled rice cultivar Mansuli under storage condition at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal from June 2013 to February 2014 . The hosts were tested using completely randomized design with three replications and were laid in free-choice and no-choice conditions. The maximum number of grain loss was recorded in wheat followed by polished rice respectively. Similarly, the highest weight loss was recorded in polished rice followed by Wheat in both conditions. F1 progeny emergence of weevil was highest in wheat followed by polished rice in free-choice and in no choice conditions, the highest progeny were emerged from polished rice followed by wheat. The lowest numbers of weevils emerged from rice in both conditions. Maximum germination losses were recorded in wheat (24.33%) and lowest in Arun-2 (9.67). The rice showed a relatively higher preference to maize weevil under storage condition.

Two Stubborn Storage Insect Pests, Callosobruchus maculatus and Sitophilus zeamais: Biology, Food Security Problems and Control Strategies

“…Research has demonstrated that the maize weevil pest has shown preference to other products other than maize under certain storage conditions. Wheat and polished rice were most preferred to maize, buckwheat and paddy while rice paddy and buckwheat were least preferred [30]. In a different study on Italian diets, superfine and parboiled rice were more preferred than other rice categories and on the contrary, pre-cooked rice and enriched rice were less attractive to S. zeamais adults.…”

An overview of the chemical composition and biological activities of essential oils fromAlpiniagenus (Zingiberaceae)

“…), triticale (Triticum aestivum L. and Secale cereale) and barley (Hordeum vulgare). 165 De Lira et al 166 investigated the fumigant toxicity of the inorescence essential oil obtained from Alpinia purpurata against Sitophilus zeamais adults with an LC 50 value of 41.4 mL per L in air. 166 The insecticidal property is mainly related to b-pinene, apinene, methyl cinnamate, a-terpineol and camphor as the major compounds presented in Alpinia essential oils.…”

“…), triticale ( Triticum aestivum L. and Secale cereale ) and barley ( Hordeum vulgare ). 165 De Lira et al 166 investigated the fumigant toxicity of the inflorescence essential oil obtained from Alpinia purpurata against Sitophilus zeamais adults with an LC 50 value of 41.4 mL per L in air. 166 …”

Evaluation of Locally Available Botanicals for the Management of Maize Weevil (Sitophilus zeamais Motsch.) in Room Storage Condition

“…is is a coleopteron insect that feeds on the kernel starch of harvested corn, causing quality, and weight loss [4]. Sitophilus zeamais is believed to cause losses of 20-80% in tropical countries [5], but losses of 18-40% have been reported in the Chitwan region of Nepal [6].…”