The effect of sun‐drying on the infestation of the African catfish(Clarias gariepinus)by post‐harvest insects in the Lake Chad district of Nigeria

Abstract

Studies involving a survey of infestation of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (dried for 4 days and stored for more than 30 days), obtained from the fish market in Maiduguri, northeastern Nigeria, as well as the direct exposure of freshly caught catfish to three sun-drying regimes, i.e. 1 day, 7 days and 14 days (stored for further 30 days under laboratory conditions) were carried out over a 5-month period. Variations in weather conditions during the period were: daytime temperatures, 32-39.9°C; night temperatures, 23.1-27.7°C; and relatively humidity, 40-69%. There was a preponderance of dermestid larvae over adults and calliphorid maggots in fish samples dried for 4 days, 7 days and 14 days. Catfish dried for 1 day harboured significantly higher numbers of maggots compared with the numbers of dermestid larvae and adults. There were significant decreases in the numbers of maggots as drying time increased, suggesting a practical possibility for the protection of dried catfish against maggots with adequate pre-storage drying and the maintenance of this moisture level during storage. There was also an inverse relationship between the proportions of maggots found in dried catfish with drying time but the number of dermestids increased with increased drying time. Dried catfish may not be protected against dermestids solely through sun-drying.

Impregnating Storage Materials with Neem Seed Oil against <i>Callosobruchus ma</i><i>culatus</i> Fabricus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) in Stored Bambara Seeds (<i>Vigna subterranean</i> L.) Verdcourt

“…Heat generation through the use of black materials has been an age-long core method of storage pest control. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the method of spreading grains on dark paper or black polyethylene sheet whilst exposed to sunlight for at least seven hours, has proved effective in reducing bruchid infestation with minimal or no effect on grain quality and germination [50,51,52].…”

Effect of Mating Disruption in Leather Beetle, Dermestes maculatus on Biological Activities and Nutritional Quality of Infested Smoked Catfish, Clarias gariepinus

“…Smoked fish, Clarias gariepinus Burchell is consumed by many families in different parts of the world for palatability and health benefits (Lale and Sastawa 1996;Odeyemi et al, 2000;Azam et al, 2014;Onoja et al, 2018). It is high in poly saturated fatty acids which are important factors in lowering blood cholesterol level (Azam, et al, 2014).…”

Effects of Five local Spices on the Mortality and Development of Dremestes maculatus Degeer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) Larvae on Dried Fish.

“…This pest account for about 71.S% of dried fish infestation recorded in most of the producing areas with a substantial loss in dry weight of about 43 to 62.7% from both larvae and adult (Osuji, 1974). Lale and Sastawa (1996) estimate the loss caused by same pest over a 3-month storage period in northern Nigeria at 13-17%. Odeyemi et al (2000) also estimated the losses of dried fish in Nigeria during storage at SO%.…”