Stored Product Entomology Research Articles

100 Years of Stored-Product Entomology at Kansas State University

Humans have been involved with stored-product entomology for as long as they have stored food and other agricultural commodities (Cotton 1963, Hagstrum and Subramanyam 2009). Before humans began storing grains, seeds, nuts, and fruits, insects must have invaded stores of seeds, nuts, or other materials cached by rodents, birds, or other insects. As humans developed and depended upon agriculture, it was a relatively simple adaptation for the insects to attack the seeds, nuts, or dried fruits that humans stored from one harvest to the next. Stored-product insects, indistinguishable from species we have today, have been found in Egyptian tombs dating back more than 4,500 years. They were found in grain or bread that was placed in tombs along with the deceased. Modern humans are exposed to stored-product insects in various contexts, and these pests can cause significant losses in the U.S. and the world, but this damage can be mitigated with knowledge of stored-product entomology. Kansas State University (KSU) developed a national and international reputation for stored-product entomology in the early to mid-20th century. In this article, we discuss the 100-year history of teaching and …

Grain damage, viability and weight loss in different barley cultivars due to Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) infestation

This study was carried out to see the impact of Angoumois grain moth (AGM) on different cultivars of barley so that we must grow resistant variety of barley or improve those which are susceptible to it. Eggs of Sitotroga cerealella (Oliv.) were collected and reared in incubators available in Stored Product Entomology Laboratory, Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, under temperature 27 ± 2°C and 60 ± 2% relative humidity. For the experiment, five different cultivars of barley; Sanober-96, Jau-83, Soorab-96, ICBA and Sterling were selected for AGM feed. After an interval of 30, 60 and 90 days of infestation, percentage damage and weight loss in grains were determined. After carrying out laboratory and field germination tests, viability of different cultivars were checked. Damage was maximum in variety Soorab (99.38%), which becomes susceptible while it was minimum in Sanober-96 (90.62%), which becomes resistant. Weight loss was maximum in variety Soorab (49.71%), which becomes susceptible and was minimum in Sanober-96 (45.32%), which becomes resistant. Damage was positively correlated with weight loss and negatively correlated with seed germination. In germination tests, on filter paper, maximum germination was found in variety Sterling (3%) which becomes resistant and it was minimum in ICBA which becomes susceptible (0%). In sand germination test, maximum seeds germinated in variety Sanober-96 (2%), and minimum seeds germinated in ICBA (0%). By calculating the percentage of losses of different cultivars, it was found that none of cultivars proved itself completely resistant or susceptible.

The life and contributions of Prof Xin Jie-Liu (1909–1994)

Prof Xin Jie-Liu (1909–1994) was an outstanding entomologist in China during the last century. He was one of the founders of acarology and stored product entomology in China. He was also a pioneer of forest entomology, insect pathology, insect physiology and soil zoology in China. This tribute is prepared to commemorate the centenary of his birth. An account of his life and career was given, along with analyses of his works and contributions to the development of acarology and entomology in China. A bibliography of his 133 papers and 42 books (including 17 translated books) was presented for the first time.

Stored Product Entomology in the United States: Perspectives for the Future

American Entomologist • Winter 2010 Stored product entomology in the United States, as it relates to insect pest management in bulk grain storage, mills, and food warehouses, has a rich and distinctive past. Among the early research papers in the Journal of Economic Entomology are two by Dean (1911, 1913) describing heat treatments to manage insects inside flour mills. As the 20th Century progressed, research with stored product insects expanded to include basic biological studies, management in stored bulk grains, and host range of specific insect species. During the 1960s and 1970s several Federal laboratories or groups were established in the U.S. for the purpose of research with stored product insects, and research expanded again into different aspects of chemical control, ecology, biology, insect-resistant packaging, and biological control. In recent years, there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of stored product entomologists within the U.S. Federal centers have been closed and staff reductions through retirements have occurred at existing facilities. There has also been a reduction in the number of university entomologists who actively conduct research with stored product insects. This reduction in active researchers poses some significant challenges for the grain and food processing industries. Some examples of future research needs will be described below; however, the order or listing does not indicate a priority. The discussion will focus on the research needs of grain and grain-based products and storage systems, but some of the concepts and ideas could be applicable to other post-harvest environments as well. Stored Product Entomology in the United States: Perspectives for the Future

A Review of Stored-Product Entomology Information Sources

The field of stored-product entomology deals with insect pests of raw and processed cereals, pulses, seeds, spices, dried fruit and nuts, and other dry, durable commodities. These pests cause significant quantitative and qualitative losses to the multibillion dollar grain, food, and retail industries each year through their feeding, product adulteration, customer complaints, product rejection at the time of sale, and cost associated with their management. The reduction in the number of stored-product entomologists at a time when regulations are reducing the number of chemicals available to manage stored-product insect pests is making full use of the literature on stored-product insects more important. Use of nonchemical and reduced-risk pest management methods requires a greater understanding of pest biology, behavior, ecology, and susceptibility to pest management methods. Stored-product entomology courses have been or are currently offered at land grant universities in four states in the United States and in at least nine other countries. Stored-product and urban entomology books cover the largest total numbers of stored-product insect species (100–160 and 24–120, respectively); economic entomology books (17–34), and popular articles or extension Web sites (29–52) cover fewer numbers of stored-product insect species. A review of 582 popular articles, 182 extension bulletins, and 226 extension Web sites showed that some aspects of stored-product entomology are covered better than others. For example, articles and Web sites on trapping (4.6%) and detection (3.3%) were more common than those on sampling commodities (0.6%). Natural enemies and biological control together were the subjects of only 2.6% of articles and Web sites. Locating and eliminating the source populations may be one of the least expensive and most productive components of an insect pest management program, yet sources of insect infestations were the subject of only 1.2% of articles and Web sites. Insect biology is often oversimplified in popular articles and Web sites; for example, developmental times are often characterized by a single number giving the typical number of days required to complete development from egg to adult, instead of describing how developmental times vary with temperature. Literature is available on the effects of temperature and other environmental factors on the developmental times of 106 species of stored-product insects. This article provides insights into the extent to which stored-product insects are covered in entomology books, entomology courses, popular articles, and extension bulletins and Web sites. Stored-product entomology books and courses are important because the coverage of stored-product insects is limited in urban and other entomology books and courses. In addition to failing to provide training on managing stored-product insect pests, the limited coverage of stored-product insects in many entomology books suggests to students that they are of less economic importance than is the case. We hope that this paper will encourage and facilitate more extensive coverage of stored-product insects in entomology books and courses, popular literature, and Web sites to meet the pest management needs of the grain, food processing, retail, and pest management industries.

Stored-Product Entomology—The Challenge of the Next Decade

It is fitting that this, first, Guest Editorial to the new-format Bulletin should be devoted to stored-product entomology since 1990 celebrates 50 years of the formal establishment of stored-product insect research and control programmes in Britain. It was in 1940 that the Pest Infestation Laboratory was established at Slough under the, then, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, consolidating the work begun some 15 years earlier under Professor J. W. Munro in the Entomology Department of Imperial College; almost at the same time, the Infestation Control Division of the Ministry of Food (now MAFF) was set up as an inspectorial and advisory body. Much has been achieved and many organisational changes have taken place since then. The original organisations have come together under the umbrella of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) whilst the group which was initiated at Slough in 1951 to address problems of storage in tropical areas is now the Storage Department of the Overseas Development Natural Resources Institute (ODNRI), the scientific unit of the Overseas Development Administration, UK (ODA). Slough has become synonymous with stored product research in Britain and beyond; sadly, however, the ‘Slough connection’ is destined to end—the ODNRI department will move this year to join its sister departments in the institute's new major laboratory development at Chatham, Kent, whilst plans are in hand for the eventual relocation of the MAFF laboratory as part of the Central Science Laboratory of the Agricultural Development and Advistory Service (ADAS).

Future Directions and Current Problems for Stored-Product Entomology

Topics covered at a round table discussion on stored-product entomology held at the 1982 North Central Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America are summarized. Areas addressed include education, research, extension, and international programs. It was concluded that more attention should be given to reducing losses in stored products.

Recent aspects of stored product entomology in New Zealand

Abstract Stored-product insect problems in New Zealand since 1970, and interceptions at quarantine since 1955 of potentially important species, are reviewed. Reesa vespulae (Milliron) and Sphaericus gibboides Boieldieu have recently been reported from New Zealand for the first time. Quarantine interceptions of potentially important species include Bruchus pisorum (L.), Trogoderma granarium Everts, T. variabile Ballion, and Anthrenus flavipes LeConte. During the 1970s insect (and mite) contamination of dried milk products occurred after long periods of storage. In North Island poultry houses mature larvae of Dermestes maculatus de Geer damaged structural timbers, and Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer occurred frequently and sometimes damaged polystyrene insulation. Hofmannophila pseudospretella (Stainton) larvae attacked carpets (many less than 6 years old), and after news media publicity 250 complaints of moth attack (72% due to H. pseudospretella) were reported to the New Zealand Wool Board from 8 November 1...

Stored Product Entomology (The Assessment and Reduction of Losses Caused by Insects to Stored Foodstuffs)

Stored Product Entomology (The Assessment and Reduction of Losses Caused by Insects to Stored Foodstuffs)