Survey of Stored-product and Other Economic Pests in Import Warehouses in Los Angeles1

Abstract

Eighteen Los Angeles warehouses specializing in imported foods were surveyed for infestations of insects and other pests. A total of 42 species of insects, mites, birds, and rodents was found. Thirty-two were species of stored-product insects and mites found in 19 different types of food products from 11 of the warehouses. Other sites where insect pests were found included food-manufacturing machinery, packing rooms, static material, window sills, shelves, and rodent bait stations. Insects were also collected flying or crawling about. Stored-product insects most frequently found were Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Lasioderma serricorne (F.), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), Plodia interpunctella (Hübner), Trogoderma variabile Ballion, O. mercator (Fauvel), Stegobium paniceum (L.), Rhyzopertha dominica (F.),Cadra cautella (Walker), Blattella germanica (L.), Periplaneta Americana (L.), Ahasverus advena (Waltl), Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and S. zeamais Motschulsky. All are common pests in California. Two pests not known to occur in California, Lardoglyphus angelinae Olsen and Cryptolestes turcicus Grouvelle, were intercepted in sealed packages of food.