Diversity and distribution of stored grain insect pests of pulses and their natural enemies

Abstract

Biodiversity of stored grain insects is often neglected as many of the workers think that it has limited or no diversity as consumer tolerance towards insect pests in stored grains is zero. Survey was conducted in six districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka region to find out the diversity and insects infesting major stored pulses during 2014-15. Callasobruchus analis L., C. maculates F., C. chinensis L. and T. castaneum H. were insect pests observed in collected pulse samples. Dinarmus basalis R., D. vagabundus T.,Dinarmus sp. and Uscana sp. were the hymenopteran parasitoids on pulse beetle collected from the samples. Rank abundance showed that C. analis was dominant species found on stored pulses.