Using five sampling methods to measure insect distribution and abundance in bins storing wheat

Abstract

Newly-harvested wheat stored in each of two bins on each of two farms in Kansas during each of 3 years was sampled every 3–4 days at two locations (in the center and midway between the center and bin wall) within each bin. The variation in insect numbers between bins, locations within a bin, farms and years differed with insect species and sampling method. Five sampling methods were used to monitor insect populations in three regions of each bin: (1) in the head space above the grain; (2) on the grain surface; and (3) within the top 50 cm of the grain mass. Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) and Ahasverus advena (Waltl) were more evenly distributed among these three regions of a bin than the other species. Typhaea stercorea (L.) were found mainly in the head space and on the grain surface. These distribution patterns were consistent throughout the 126-day storage period. R. dominica (F.) were found in the head space and within the grain mass early in the storage period, and mainly in the grain mass as grain cooled in the autumn. The majority of Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) (91%) were caught in sticky traps in the head space. Two of the three less abundant species, Sitophilus oryzae (L.) and Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), tended to be found most often on the grain surface and the other, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), within the grain mass. The sampling method often influenced the results. Emergence traps captured greater numbers of A. advena than other species. More R. dominica were found in grain samples than in traps in the autumn. Pushing probe traps below the surface of the grain reduced the numbers of T. stercorea, A. advena, S. oryzae and T. castaneum captured. Differences between species and times during the storage period in the effectiveness of different sampling methods need to be considered in making pest management decisions.