Implementation of environmentally friendly methods for the management of stored product insects

Abstract

Postharvest losses can be caused by insects infesting stored products, with estimates ranging from up to 9% in industrialized countries to 20% or more in underdeveloped ones. Due to the potential harm of insecticides, including regulatory restrictions and insect resistance, as well as the increasing consumer demand for insect-free and insecticide-free products, there is significant interest in developing alternatives to traditional insecticides for eliminating insects in stored products. Sanitation may be the first line of defense for stored grain, as well as for food processing companies and warehouse operations. For farm-stored grain, manipulating temperature and utilizing biological control are two of the most promising biologically derived management strategies. Various biologically derived methods for protecting stored plant products against infestation are currently recognized and partially employed. However, these techniques require further refinement to enhance their efficacy in practical applications. This involves the use of semiochemicals to monitor and regulate pest populations and the introduction of natural enemies (namely parasitoids) as biological control agents for stored-product pests. Some modern techniques can be implemented in grain elevators. In this article, we review the biologically derived substances that have proven successful in managing stored product insects.