Stegobium Research Articles

Attractant pheromones of museum insect pests

Attractant pheromones have been identified for a number of insect pests which attack museum collections. They include well known pests such as webbing clothes moth (Tineola bisselliella), furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum), biscuit beetle (Stegobium paniceum), cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne) and the carpet beetles (Attagenus unicolor, Anthrenus verbasci and Anthrenus sarnicus). There is also evidence that some other species such as the odd beetle (Thylodrias contractus) and the case-bearing clothes moth (Tinea pellionella) also use pheromones although they have not yet been fully characterised. Laboratory research has clearly shown that many of these chemicals have a strong attractancy to males of the species, which can be used to improve trap performance. However; successful use of the pheromones in practice is determined by lure performance and trap design. It also depends upon the commercial availability of lures at an economic rate. Trials in museums have shown that clothes moth pheromone lures can provide early warning of pest attack and detect failure of control treatments. They have also had an effect of reducing pest numbers when used at high rates. Cigarette beetle and biscuit beetle lures perform well at higher temperatures when the insects are active and flying. The performance of the pheromone of furniture beetle is not consistent and there is also a cross-attraction to biscuit beetles. There are still many questions which need answering to improve the effectiveness of pheromone traps, but for some species, they have a valuable role for monitoring pests in museums.

Characterizing spatial distribution of trap captures of beetles in retail pet stores using SADIE ® software

The weevils, Sitophilus spp., drug store beetle, Stegobium paniceum (L.), and red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) in two retail pet stores in Kansas, USA, were sampled with pitfall traps on five separate occasions before and four separate occasions after a thorough sanitation in areas with high trap captures. Trap captures of Sitophilus spp. and S. paniceum in store 1 and those of T. castaneum and Sitophilus spp. in store 2, were analyzed using the Spatial Analysis of Distance IndicEs (SADIE ®) software. Captures of Sitophilus spp. in store 1 and T. castaneum in store 2 increased immediately after sanitation, but subsequently were similar to levels before sanitation, whereas captures of S. paniceum in store 1 and Sitophilus spp. in store 2 were unaffected by sanitation. In store 1, S. paniceum trap captures were randomly distributed on all sampling occasions, while Sitophilus spp . captures were spatially aggregated immediately before and after sanitation. During the 6 months of trapping, the Sitophilus spp. trap capture centroids gradually moved northwards, and those of S. paniceum moved southwards. In store 2, trap captures of T. castaneum and Sitophilus spp. were uniformly distributed before sanitation and were predominantly spatially aggregated after sanitation. During the 6 months of trapping, trap capture centroids of both T. castaneum and Sitophilus spp. gradually moved northwards. The impact of a thorough sanitation performed once on the spatial distribution patterns of insects in the two retail stores was not consistent. Sanitation was also ineffective in reducing captures of the insect species.

Insect Remains from the Collections in the Egyptian Museum of Turin

The identification of insects preserved in pharaonic antiquities stored in the Egyptian Museum of Turin provides new information on aspects of biogeography, storage and trade. The khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, the biscuit beetle, Stegobium paniceum, and the house fly, Musca domestica, were recovered from food offerings from tombs in Egypt, and Dermestes frischii was found embedded in resin from a cartonnage mask. The study produced some of the earliest records of pests of stored products, and the khapra beetle may indicate early contacts with the Indian subcontinent. The problems of differentiating modern and ancient infestation are discussed.

Spatial distribution of some beetles infesting a feed mill with spatio-temporal dynamics of Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum

Food-bait traps were used to study spatial and temporal distribution of the coleopteran fauna of the first floor of a feed mill in Central Italy. A total of 3396 beetles were captured during the 1-year survey. Beetles were most abundant during July and August and least abundant during February and March. Tribolium confusum du Val was the most abundant and widespread, followed by Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), Attagenus brunneus Faldermann, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), and Stegobium paniceum (L.). The spatial patterns of annual catches of these six species were depicted by contour maps. In addition, high catches of O. surinamensis, T. castaneum and T. confusum, allowed construction of contour maps for monthly trap catches. The populations of A. brunneus were located in the bagging, milling, formulation and pelleting sites, and in the area around the conveyer belt. The highest populations of O. surinamensis were in the entry zone of the unloading pit and in the area around the conveyer belt with finished products. Sitophilus oryzae were present near the entry door of the unloading pit room, around the storage bins and in the storeroom. Populations of S. paniceum were found in the unloading pit as far as the conveyer belt and in a corner of storeroom. Tribolium castaneum was limited to a localized area in the room where raw material was processed and in the entry to the unloading pit room. The highest T. confusum populations were located in the milling, formulation and pelleting sites, and near balance and storage bins. Comparison of the spatio-temporal dynamics of these pests showed a segregation of populations, in both time and space, and a strong interaction among species is suggested. On the basis of our results, the spatial and temporal distributions are significantly affected by various factors, such as food availability, processing practices and temperature conditions in different areas.

Yeast-like symbiotes as a sterol source in anobiid beetles (Coleoptera, Anobiidae): possible metabolic pathways from fungal sterols to 7-dehydrocholesterol.

Insects are unable to synthesize sterols and require exogenous sterol sources for their normal development and reproduction. A few exceptions are insects associated with symbiotic yeasts or fungi. We analyzed sterols by GC-MS in two anobiid beetles (Lasioderma serricorne and Stegobium paniceum), their intracellular yeast-like symbiotes (YLS), and their diets in order to clarify the sterols synthesized by YLS and the metabolic pathways of the sterols in the beetles. Several C(27), C2(8), and C(29) saturated and unsaturated sterols were identified; the predominant sterols were cholesterol and 7-dehydrocholesterol in the anobiid beetles and ergosterol in the YLS. Most sterols detected in YLS were those known in the late pathway of the ergosterol biosynthesis in yeasts and most of the sterols in the beetles appear to be intermediate metabolites from YLS sterols to 7-dehydrocholesterol. The anobiid beetles appear to use ergosterol and 5-dihydroergosterol as sources for 7-dehydrocholesterol.

Metals in mandibles of stored product insects: do zinc and manganese enhance the ability of larvae to infest seeds?

Although high concentrations of zinc and manganese were found in mandibles of insect larvae that bore into seeds, these metals were not detected in mandibles of insect larvae that attack previously damaged seeds. Metals were present in the larval mandibles of a lepidopteran, the Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealella), and eight coleopterans, the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica), cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne), drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum), spider beetle (Gibbium aequinoctiale), warehouse beetle (Trogoderma variabile), cadelle (Tenebroides mauritanicus), larger black flour beetle (Cynaeus angustus), and cowpea weevil (Callosobruchus maculatus). Larvae of these species can chew into seeds. Larvae of six other coleopterans, the varied carpet beetle (Anthrenus verbasci), sawtoothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis), rusty grain beetle (Cryptolestes ferrugineus), red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum), longheaded flour beetle (Latheticus oryzae), and granary weevil (Sitophilus granarius) have little if any ability to chew into seeds, and did not have metal in their mandibles. Larvae of the granary weevil hatch and feed within seeds that were penetrated previously during egg deposition by adults. However, newly hatched larvae of the cowpea weevil and the Angoumois grain moth have to bore through the seed coat before they begin feeding, and they have mandibles with high concentrations of zinc. These data support the hypothesis that deposition of zinc and/or manganese in larval mandibles enhances the larva's ability to penetrate seeds.

Repeated losses of TTAGG telomere repeats in evolution of beetles (Coleoptera).

We studied the occurrence of (TTAGG)n telomere repeats in 12 species of beetles, representing main lineages of the Coleoptera phylogenetic tree, by Southern hybridization and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). In contrast to other insect orders, beetles were heterogeneous with respect to the occurrence of TTAGG repeats. In addition, the presence or absence of (TTAGG)n motif was irrespective of phylogenetic relationships. In the suborder Polyphaga, six species displayed positive hybridization signals. These were Silpha obscura, Agrilus viridis, Ampedus sanguineus, Stegobium paniceum, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, and Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Whereas negative signals were obtained in three polyphagan species, Geotrupes stercorarius, Thanasimusformicarius, and Sitophilus granarius. In the suborder Adephaga, the TTAGG sequence was present in one species, Graphoderus cinereus, and absent in two species, Orectochilus villosus and Pterostichus oblongopunctatus. We concluded that the telomerase-dependent (TTAGG)n motif had been repeatedly lost in different phylogenetic branches of Coleoptera and probably replaced with another mechanism of telomere elongation. This had to happen at least 5-6 times. The results suggest a predisposition or a backup mechanism of telomere maintenance in the genome of beetles that enabled them to make frequent evolutionary changes in the telomere composition.

The effect of carbon dioxide under pressure against eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller and adults of Stegobium paniceum (L.) and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.)

AbstractThe efficacy of an atmosphere with a high content of carbon dioxide under a pressure of 5 and 10 bar against young eggs of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lep.: Pyralidae) and adults of Stegobium paniceum (L.) (Col.: Anobiidae) and Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (Col.: Cucujidae) was investigated. At a pressure level of 10 bar, a 100 % mortality in eggs of E. kuehniella was obtained after 4 hours. Complete control was not obtained with the adult beetles, except for a 2 hour‐treatment at 10 bar with individuals of S. paniceum, which not were offered protection. It is demonstrated that when working with an atmosphere of carbon dioxide under pressure of 10 bar for 2 hours, even a slight protection from food material will influence the mortality. The reason for these findings are discussed.

Chaves para a identificação dos principais Coleoptera (Insecta) associados com produtos armazenados

An illustrated key to identify nine families of Coleoptera commonly found in stored products is presented. Keys for the identification of Anobiidae [Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius, 1792), Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus, 1761)], Bruchidae [Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say, 1831), Zabrotes subfasciatus (Boheman, 1833)], Curculionidae [Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus, 1763), S. zeamais Motschulsky, 1885], Silvanidae [Ahasverus advena (Waltl, 1832), Cathartus quadricollis (Guerin, 1892), Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel, 1889), O. surinamensis (Linnaeus, 1758)] and Tenebrionidae [Gnathocerus cornutus (Fabricius, 1798), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst, 1797), T. confusum du Val, 1868] are also provided. These keys cover the most frequent Coleoptera found in stored products, specially grains, and are to the adult stage only. Illustrations of external morphology and general characteristics are provided for each species reported.

Occurrence of Arthropods in a Central Italy feed-mill

This paper deals with the Arthropods fauna collected by bait and pheromone traps and categorized during one-year study in a Central Italy feed-mill.A total of 17,919 Arthropods were collected: Arachnida, Isopoda and Insecta. In the Arachnida we found mites, pseudoscorpions and mostly spiders; while in the Isopoda the only species noted wasPorcellio scaber (Latreille); in the Insecta 9 orders and 33 determined species were associated with the feed-mill: Collembola, Thysanura, Dermaptera, Psocoptera, Rhynchota, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera.In the order Lepidoptera about 55% of the insects were collected. Eight species of stored product Lepidoptera were cuaght:Ephestia kuehniella. Zeller, was the most abundant and wide-spread in the feed-mill (with 8,230 males, 83.53% of Lepidoptera trapped) followed byPlodia interpunctella (Hübner), (1,415 males) andEphestia elutella, (Hübner), (161 males). Coleopterans made up 40.43% of the insects collected.Tribolium confusum J. Du Val, was the most abundant and widespread in the feed-mill (with 5,451 specimens, 75.23% of Coleoptera trapped); less abundant wereOryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) (752 specimens),Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (359 specimens),Attagenus brunneus Fald. (223 specimens),Stegobium paniceum (L.) (156 specimens) andSitophilus oryzae (L.) (118 specimens).Arthropods infestation level found during this survey were probably directly proportional to the amount of debris present in the departments.Because of these and other peculiarities, the feed-mill staff have to be continually alert to prevent, detect, and control pest problems within their work environment.

Effect of storage containers on infestation of split dried ginger rhizome by Stegobium paniceum (Coleoptera: Anobiidae)

Three storage containers, polyethylene bag 130um, polyethylene bag 20um, thick and International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) brown paper sampling bag were evaluated for their effectiveness in protecting split dried ginger rhizome against a beetle borer, Stegobium paniceum L. After seven months of storage, ginger specimens stored in polyethylene bag 130um thick and IITA brown sampling bags remained better protected against infestation by S. paniceum. Weight loss observed was mostly due to S. paniceum feeding activities as only about 0.2% weight loss was due to natural drying of the specimens. Ginger powder obtained by milling the uninfested split dried ginger after seven months of storage retained desired culinary qualities. Split dried ginger rhizomes can therefore be stored in sealed polyethylene bags 130um thick, which are more durable and water resistant than IITA brown paper sampling bags.

Semiochemicals – Synthesis, Stereochemistry, and Bioactivity

The syntheses of some new pheromones and other semiochemicals is reported. The target molecules are the pheromone (20) of a myxobacterium, a plant germination stimulant [sorgolactone (22a)], a plant leaf-closing factor [phyllanthurinolactone (24a)], the pheromone [stegobiol (25) and stegobinone (26)] of the drugstore beetle, and the pheromone [frontalin (27)] of the southern pine beetle. Like other natural products, semiochemicals are not always enantiomerically pure, and their enantiomeric heterogeneity is taken advantage of by organisms to increase the diversity in chemical communications. Relationships between absolute configuration and bioactivity of pheromones, rather than being simple, are extremely complicated and unpredictable.

Semiochemicals – Synthesis, Stereochemistry, and Bioactivity

The syntheses of some new pheromones and other semiochemicals is reported. The target molecules are the pheromone (20) of a myxobacterium, a plant germination stimulant [sorgolactone (22a)], a plant leaf-closing factor [phyllanthurinolactone (24a)], the pheromone [stegobiol (25) and stegobinone (26)] of the drugstore beetle, and the pheromone [frontalin (27)] of the southern pine beetle. Like other natural products, semiochemicals are not always enantiomerically pure, and their enantiomeric heterogeneity is taken advantage of by organisms to increase the diversity in chemical communications. Relationships between absolute configuration and bioactivity of pheromones, rather than being simple, are extremely complicated and unpredictable.

Synthesis of Stegobiol and Its Oxidation to Stegobinone, the Components of the Female-Produced Sex Pheromone of the Drugstore Beetle

Crystalline (–)-stegobinone [(2S,3R,1′R)]-2,3-dihydro-2,3,5-trimethyl-6-(1′-methyl-2′-oxobutyl)-4H-pyran-4-one (1)], the major component of the female-produced sex pheromone of the drugstore beetle (Stegobium paniceum L.), was synthesized by oxidation of crystalline and the minor component (–)-stegobiol [(2S,3R,1′S,2′S)-2,3-dihydro-2,3,5-trimethyl-6-(2′-hydroxy-1′-methylbutyl)-4H-pyran-4-one (2)] under the appropriate conditions using Jones's chromic acid, Dess-Martin's periodinane or Ley's ruthenium reagent. The latter (2) was synthesized by employing lipase and the Sharpless epoxidation for the introduction of the proper chiral centers. The streostructure of 1 was comfirmed by X-ray analysis.

A Flexible Stereocontrolled Synthesis of β-Hydroxy-α-methyl Esters: Application to the Synthesis of Stegobiol and Serricorole

β-Hydroxy-α-methyl esters have been obtained in a stereocontrolled manner and high enantiomeric and diastereomeric purity from commercially available methyl 3-oxopentanoate and methyl 3-oxobutanoate. The key step is the catalytic hydrogenation of the carbonyl group using (R)- or (S)-BINAP-Ru as chiral catalyst followed by asymmetric alkylation. Stegobiol and serricorole, components of the sex pheromone of the drugstore beetle, Stegobium paniceum (L.) and cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne (F.), have been prepared from these chiral building blocks without the need for stoichiometric amounts of chiral auxiliaries.

Integrated Pest Management perceptions and practices and insect populations in grocery stores in south-central United States

Objectives of this study were to examine Integrated Pest Management (IPM) perceptions and practices in grocery stores, and to quantify by location, the occurrence and abundance of stored product insects. The first objective was accomplished by surveying grocery store employees of 322 grocery stores in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas using a 28 question survey. Grocers lacked knowledge of IPM practices, yet over half were interested in learning more about IPM. Present management practices are pesticide intensive with limited use of alternatives including sanitation, stock rotation and trapping. Presently, grocers depend on pest control companies to find and control problem insects in the store. Insects reported by grocers as problems were weevils, cockroaches, flies and ants. Extensive trapping in eight Oklahoma grocery stores targeted pet foods, cake mixes, and back room areas. Trapping studies showed stored product insects were abundant in all stores. The most prevalent insects found in traps included the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner); merchant grain beetle, Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel); and drugstore beetle, Stegobium paniceum (L.). Stored product insects were concentrated in pet food areas and were readily found in the stores.

The assessment of potential attractants to beetle pests: Improvements to laboratory pitfall bioassay methods

A single pitfall bioassay has been used as a standard method for testing the response of small beetle pests to potential attractants. However, previous studies have suggested that there may be some potential for improvement and the need for a better understanding of the methodology. In this study, eight species of stored product insects were tested against known attractants to investigate certain aspects of the bioassay procedure likely to influence the sensitivity of the test. The insects tested were Ahasverus advenu, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Rhyzopertha dominica, Prostephanus truncatus, Sitophilus granarius, S. oryzae, S. zeamais and Stegobium paniceum. The factors investigated were the test duration, pitfall lip size and arena size. For the majority of species tested, either the differentiation between control and attractant results was good, irrespective of the bioassay design, or changes to the bioassay design markedly improved the catch. However, this bioassay method may not be suitable for S. zeamais. Of the assessment periods tested, it was generally found that l h was optimal, or at least as good as the longer alternatives. Although 100 mm arena sizes generally trapped larger numbers of insects, the differentiation between treatment and control samples was optimal with differing arena sizes for the different insect species. Pitfall lip size appears to be the least important factor in increasing the differentiation between treatment and control samples. Although these findings go some way towards improving the methodology of the single pitfall bioassay, there remain some questions on the variability of the insect response under the test conditions. However, on the basis of previous experience and the studies reported here, we are able to suggest the most effective design of the single pitfall bioassay for the species tested. Recommendations for particular aspects of the bioassay design have been chosen to achieve maximum differentiation between control and attractant.

Chirality and insect pheromones

Enantioselective synthesis is a central component of research on the effect of chirality on the relationships between pheromone structure and pheromone bioactivity. The syntheses of stegobinone, the drugstore beetle pheromone, and frontalin, a bark beetle pheromone, are reported as examples of stereocontrolled synthesis. Chirality governs the biodiversity of pheromone perception, as illustrated by the discussion on the relationships between absolute configuration and pheromone activity. Chirality 10:578–586, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chirality and insect pheromones

Enantioselective synthesis is a central component of research on the effect of chirality on the relationships between pheromone structure and pheromone bioactivity. The syntheses of stegobinone, the drugstore beetle pheromone, and frontalin, a bark beetle pheromone, are reported as examples of stereocontrolled synthesis. Chirality governs the biodiversity of pheromone perception, as illustrated by the discussion on the relationships between absolute configuration and pheromone activity. Chirality 10:578–586, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The influence of the height of powdery food deposit on the growth of the drug-store beetle, Stegobium paniceum L.

The influence of the height of powdery food deposit on the growth of the drug-store beetle, <i>Stegobium paniceum</i> L.