The early dispersal of insect pests of stored products as indicated by archaeological records

Fossil records of insect pests of stored products, principally Coleoptera, from archaeological sites are discussed with particular reference to the dispersal of pest species by man. Available evidence is biased being largely from Egypt and Roman Britain, and the examination of other samples is much needed. Some taxa e.g. Ptinus fur, Mycetaea hirta and Tenebrio spp. occur in natural habitats in northern and central Europe, and others such as Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Cryptolestes ferrugineus and Tenebroides mauritanicus may have colonised synanthropic situations from natural habitats in Southern Europe. Whether species in the latter group were indigenous to Britain or are Roman or earlier introductions is uncertain. Tribolium confusum and T. castaneum probably originated in the southern hemisphere though the latter species is known from an Egyptian tomb of 1345 B.C. Sitophilus granarius is known from grain of the 9th to 7th centuries B.C. in Israel but there are as yet no records from pre-Roman Europe. Calculations of grain production and the requirements of armies in ancient times should take cognisance of losses during storage which are likely to have exceeded 10%.