Optimal environmental search and scattered orientations during movement of adult rusty grain beetles, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), in grain bulks – suggested movement and distribution patterns

An understanding of insect movement and distribution within grain bulks is essential to effectively control insect pests. In this paper, opinions published in the literature and related to random, downward, and bias movements (the tendency to move in non-random directions) of adults of Cryptolestes ferrugineus have been compared and the net displacement of C. ferrugineus adults in stored-grain bulks was calculated. The average net displacement of the adults inside a stored-wheat mass was 0.435 ± 0.229 m/d. The causes of the scattered orientations were analyzed and the following points were suggested: 1) both experimental observations and theoretical analyses did not support the view that adults of C. ferrugineus exhibit a positive geotactic behavior; 2) the downward movement might be caused by adults' drifting; 3) during their bias movements in responding to environmental factors such as temperature gradients, adults did not significantly decrease their random movements; and 4) their dispersal inside granaries might be mainly influenced by their random movement, drift, and scattered orientations. At the individual level, they were always moving toward optimal environmental areas. At the population level, the random movement plus scattered orientations resulted in a diffusion distribution pattern. Comparison between the suggested diffusion pattern and the insect distributions published in the literature in the following areas was conducted: theoretical analyses of insect diffusion, movements and distributions under laboratory conditions, and dispersal in full-size granaries. Results show that the published insect distributions were consistent with the suggested diffusion pattern.     

Diversity and community structure of insect pests developing in stored sorghum in the Northern-Sudan ecological zone of Burkina Faso

Stored insect pests often create major problems for farmers worldwide. Comprehensive data of insect pests of stored sorghum in Burkina Faso are scarce. Understanding the population structure of insect fauna infesting stored sorghum is important for development of management strategy. Sorghum panicles were collected from January to September 2011 in farmers' granaries in the Northern-Sudanian ecological zone of Burkina Faso to determine the diversity of insect pests and their importance in post-harvest losses. A total of 14 species of insect pests were recorded, including twelve coleopteran and two lepidopteran species. Species diversity peaked between May and September. The highest insect diversity was recorded in sorghum stored in straw granaries and on red coloured grains when compared with that of sorghum stored in mud granaries and on white coloured grains. Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius) appears to be the primary insect pest followed by secondary pests including Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) and Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky). The distribution pattern of the pests in granaries corresponds to the Mandelbrot model in which colonization of species in an environment depends on the physical conditions of that environment and on the species currently present, which suggest a progressive colonization occurs in waves with stocks of grain.     

Insect infestation in stored animal products

Published information about insect pest infestation in dried or preserved animal products comprising food items like dried fish and milk powder and non-food materials such as hides and skins, silkworm cocoons, wool and woollen materials, honeybee combs, fishmeal and museum collections/exhibits and control measures has been summarised in this review. Beetle and moth pests belonging to the Dermestidae and Tineidae, respectively, attack the animal products, during the processing or manufacturing stage as well as in storage. The insects cause considerable loss or damage to the commodity in terms of quantity, quality and market value. Silk, apiculture and leather industries are particularly affected by the pests. Data on the extent of losses due to insect pests in various preserved animal products are lacking. Insect control measures in these products differ depending on the conditions of storage or processing and the relevant cost factor. Phosphine fumigation plays an important role in insect pest elimination in the majority of the stored animal products. For disinfesting museum objects and honeycombs, freezing (for artefacts) or modified atmosphere application of CO₂ or nitrogen is preferred. Commodities such as woollen materials, dried fish, fishmeal and feeds containing animal products and their storage premises are sometimes treated with residual contact insecticides such as deltamethrin, pirimiphos-methyl, permethrin and synergised pyrethrins. For protecting animal products, especially dried fish, different countries have examined alternatives including plant extracts and vegetable oils.The need for detailed studies on (i) fumigation with alternatives to methyl bromide such as sulphuryl fluoride, ethyl formate and ozone, (ii) disinfestation methods involving the active principles from natural products and (iii) exploitation of insect traps for pest management in museums has been highlighted.     

Prediction of insect mortality in cooled stored grain

Grain aeration with ambient air is the primary method used in France to prevent and control insect infestations. French grain storage operators consider that complete total mortality of insects can be achieved by maintaining grain temperature at 5 °C for 3 months. A predictive model on insect survival at low temperature was developed, using data from literature to test this hypothesis on Sitophilus oryzae, Sitophilus granarius, Rhyzopertha dominica, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum. A Cox proportional hazard regression, belonging to survival analysis, was associated to a Receiver Operator Analysis to evaluate the model and to predict durations of cold exposure required to obtain a total mortality for each species at different developmental stages and temperatures. The model described well the data since occurrence or not of a total mortality was correctly described in 77.2% of all cases. Computed predictions highlighted the facts that species cold-tolerance ranking varied depending on the temperature levels and that difference of cold tolerance between adult and immature stages depended greatly on species. A temperature of 0 °C is sufficient to kill all insect populations within 3 months, except Cryptolestes ferrugineus ones. However, a temperature of 5 °C is highly insufficient to achieve a total mortality. Practical implementations of this work are discussed.     

Detecting and Responding to Resource and Stimulus during the Movements of Cryptolestes ferrugineus Adults

An understanding of insect movement and distribution within grain bulks is essential to effectively control insect pests. The aim of this review was to (1) identify the major and minor factors influencing the movement of adults of Cryptolestes ferrugineus and to (2) analyze their ability of resource detecting and cue orienting. Their response to major and minor environmental factors was related with the general features of the grain storage environment, their development requirement, and their ability of cue orienting and detecting. Their movement inside stored grain bins and in small-scale chambers was compared. Incompleteness of our current knowledge regarding their movement and cue detection under multi-factors is the main reason why we cannot predict yet their dispersal and distribution inside granaries accurately.     

储粮害虫检测技术研究进展

储粮害虫是危害粮食安全的主要因素之一,害虫检测技术对于粮食综合管理有非常重要的意义。根据国内外学者对储粮害虫检测技术的研究报道,本文归纳和总结了各种检测技术,分别介绍传统类、新型物理及生物类检测法。传统检测方法较为成熟并已被标准化,常用方法有直观检查法、取样筛检法、探管诱捕法;物理检测法较为新颖,以快速无损型检测方法为主,包括近红外及高光谱法、软X射线、电导率法、声测法、微波法、图像识别法、电子鼻等七种;生物检测法多为辅助性方法,常与其他方法联用以达到较优检测效果。本文对各种方法进行深入比较,并探讨国内外最新害虫检测技术,以期为将来研发合适的检测方法和仪器提供参考。     

Spinosad: A new natural product for stored grain protection

Spinosad is a reduced-risk insecticide derived by fermentation from the soil actinomycete, Saccharopolyspora spinosa Mertz & Yao. Spinosad is currently registered in several countries as a grain protectant at a maximum labeled use rate of 1 ppm (1 mg a.i./kg of grain) and with the Maximum Residue Level (MRL) or tolerance on grains set at 1 or 1.5 ppm. Global launch of spinosad as a grain protectant is expected in the near future, pending final acceptance of international residue tolerances for spinosad by major grain importing and exporting countries. Spinosad effectively controls economically important beetle and moth pests associated with stored grain and is also effective against certain psocid species. Spinosad provides grain protection through control of adult and/or immature life stages of pest insects. The pest spectrum of spinosad under commercial grain storage conditions is still being defined, but it is clear from available laboratory and field evaluations on various grains that the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.); larger grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn); rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens); flat grain beetle, Cryptolestes pusillus (Schönherr); red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst); confused flour beetle, Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val; Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hübner); rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton); Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier); almond moth, Cadra cautella Walker; and the psocid species Lepinotus reticulatus Enderlein and Liposcelis entomophila (Enderlein) are susceptible to spinosad and complete control is to be expected. Other pest species such as the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais Motchulsky; rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.); and sawtoothed grain beetle, Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.) are susceptible to spinosad to varying degrees, but their overall level of control remains to be verified under commercial grain storage conditions. Spinosad residues are highly stable on grains stored in bins, with a length of protection ranging from 6 months to 2 years. Numerous factors have been shown to impact the overall performance of spinosad, including insect pest species, pest life stage, grain type, grain variety, and formulation type. Spinosad possesses a unique mode of action in insects and controls insect strains resistant to other grain protectants. When launched globally, spinosad will represent a valuable new addition to the limited arsenal of grain protectants and can positively impact global food security. Its combination of high efficacy, broad insect pest spectrum, low mammalian toxicity, and sound environmental profile is unique among existing products currently used for stored-grain protection.     

Evaluation of sampling units and sampling plans for adults of Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Coleoptea: Laemophloeidae) in stored wheat under different temperatures, moisture contents, and adult densities

Development and evaluation of optimum size and number of sample units is required for cost-effective management of stored grain beetles. In this study, we evaluated the sampling parameters and accuracy of insect density detection and estimation, developed the optimum size and number of sample units, and conducted a feasibility study of the insect detection and density estimation. The measured insect densities in 92% of random samples were less than the introduced insect densities and 67.4 ± 10.8% of random samples did not contain adults when the introduced insect density was 0.1 A/kg (adult/kg). If the random sampling technique was used and 15% of the stored wheat bulk was sampled, 72% of determined means of insect densities of the sampling sets were lower than the introduced insect densities. Increasing the size of sample units did not improve the accuracy of the estimation of insect densities; however, it did considerably increase the probability of insect detection when insect densities were lower than 1.0 A/kg. We recommend at least 7 kg per sample unit for insect detection (especially when insect densities < 0.1 A/kg) and the optimum number of sample units with 15 kg grain per unit should be >24 for a fixed precision of 0.35 when insect densities < 0.1 A/kg. This might be a challenge for grain storage practice. Therefore, using sampling technique to estimate insect densities and detect insects at low insect densities (<0.1 A/kg) might not be practicable.     

储粮害虫检测方法研究进展

科学、快速、准确进行储粮害虫检测是高效开展害虫综合防治的前提,也是保障粮食安全储藏的重要措施。本文根据国内外储粮害虫检测方法研究与应用进展情况,介绍了直观检查法、取样检查法、诱集检查法、电子检查法等储粮害虫检测方法及其优缺点,展望了储粮害虫检测技术发展方向,以期对我国储粮害虫发生的预测预报研究与应用有所裨益。     

Moisture content gradient and ventilation in stored wheat affect movement and distribution of Oryzaephilus surinamensis and have implications for pest monitoring

This study was carried out primarily to ascertain whether the movement of Oryzaephilus surinamensis and Sitophilus granarius from low to high humidity zones occurs in bins of wheat and whether aeration of the grain (10 m³/h/t) affects this movement. The second aim was to ascertain the best placement of insect detection traps under the different conditions. Insects were introduced into the lower half of the grain in the bins and their movement was monitored using traps placed at various depths in the grain. Sitophilus granarius did not move through the grain into the top layer regardless of the moisture content, temperature or aeration status of the grain. More O. surinamensis were caught in unventilated bins than in ventilated bins. More insects were caught in the ventilated bins containing layers of both dry and wet grain than in the bins containing only dry grain. The spatio-temporal distribution of O. surinamensis varied significantly. The depth at which insects were trapped varied between treatments: in ventilated dry grain, most insects were trapped at the surface; in ventilated wet and dry grain, most insects were trapped at 10 cm and 0.75 m; in unventilated wet and dry grain, the vast majority of the insects were trapped at 0.75 m. Very few insects were trapped at 1.75 m regardless of the treatment. The proportions of the initial population of O. surinamensis which were recaptured in the top layer of grain varied between treatments. Most were recaptured in the unventilated bins containing wet and dry grain followed by ventilated bins containing wet and dry grain. The smallest proportion of the population was recaptured in the ventilated bins containing only dry grain. Immediate practical implications for pest monitoring based on physical control measures in use are discussed.     

基于DNA条形码技术的储粮害虫碎片鉴定研究

储粮害虫(螨)个体微小,种类繁多,与人类生活紧密相关,具有重要经济意义,储粮害虫快速鉴定是进行储粮害虫综合防治的前提和基础。传统的形态鉴定技术难以实现粮食及食品中害虫的非成虫态和碎片的准确鉴定,DNA条形码是近年来出现的物种分子鉴定技术,能够实现对昆虫非成熟虫态及碎片的快速鉴定。本研究利用DNA条形码技术和联合开发的中国储粮害虫DNA条形码鉴定系统(GPDBIS),针对某食品有限公司送检的储粮害虫碎片样品进行了序列测定、比对和分析,最终实现碎片的快速准确鉴定。结果显示,在所检测的7个害虫碎片样品中,有4头为锈赤扁谷盗Cryptolestes ferrugineus Stephens,3头为赤拟谷盗Tribolium castaneum Herbst,DNA条形码技术是储粮害虫快速准确鉴定的有效手段。     

储粮害虫智能检测方法的分析

储粮害虫的检测一直以来都是粮食储藏行业研究的一个热点，害虫种类的正确识别是粮食管理人员进行害虫防治的必要依据。对目前国内外的两种主要的害虫检测方法进行了叙述与分析，即基于图像识别的检测方法和基于声信号的检测和识别方法。在此基础上，该文重点论述了基于DSP的多信息融合的储粮害虫智能检测方法。     

Two-dimensional diffusion of Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens) (Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) populations in stored wheat under constant environmental conditions

Insect movement inside a stored-grain bulk increases the chance for the pests to find biologically suitable locations for their development and multiplication. The movement of rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, adults was determined in a 0.1×1×1 m wooden box filled with wheat. There were 12 combinations of temperature (20, 25, 30, or 35 °C), number of adults (125, 250, or 500), moisture content (12.5, 14.5, or 16.5%), and time periods (3, 6, 12, 24 or 72 h) over which movement could occur. The diffusivities in each set of environmental conditions were calculated using a developed procedure (program) and experimental data. The diffusivity at 14.5% m.c. and 20 °C in the 24 h movement period was 2.5±0.3×10⁻⁴ m²/h. The diffusivity increased with increasing temperature, decreasing moisture contents, decreasing movement periods, and increasing insect numbers. Adult numbers in each section of the wooden box were predicted using an analytical model and calculated diffusivities. There were no significant differences between measured and predicted adult numbers. This research suggests that distribution and dispersal of the C. ferrugineus adults in stored wheat follow a diffusion pattern under constant environmental conditions.     

对南京储烟昆虫群落的初步研究

１９９２年４月到１９９３年４月对南京仓储烟叶及露天垛储存烟叶上的昆虫群落进行了研究。从分类类群及生态功能上对这两类昆虫群落的结构进行了分析和研究，估计出了它们各自包含的物种数及最大可能漏查的物种数，确定了常见种和优势种；计算和分析了这两类群落物种的时间生态位宽度和时间生态位重叠指数；对储烟昆虫群落的多样性指数和均匀性指数也进行了计算和分析，最后研究了储烟昆虫群落的季节格局，并组建了群落及优势种的消长模型。     

Design and efficacy evaluation of a modern automated controlled atmosphere system for pest management in stored dates

The use of high-pressure carbon dioxide and heating applications has been more popular against stored product insect pests recently. We designed and constructed a modern automated controlled atmosphere system based on carbon dioxide under different pressures and temperature regimes for the management of the red flour beetle (Tribolium castaneum) (RFB) and saw-toothed grain beetle (Oryzaephilus surinamensis) (SGB) infesting stored dates (cv. Sagai). The findings of this study showed that the minimum exposure time that killed 100% of all developmental stages of the two beetles was 30 min at a pressure of 300 kPa and a temperature of 45 °C. This combination was optimal in the consumption of electrical energy and carbon dioxide. Based on the lethal time that killed 50% (LT₅₀) and 95% (LT₉₅) of the test insect population, RFB showed more susceptibility to the treatment than SGB. The optimal combinations of carbon dioxide concentration, pressure, and temperature at minimum exposure time that killed 100% of the test insects have no significant detrimental effects on the essential characteristics related to date quality. The designed prototype of the controlled atmosphere system, based on the pressure of carbon dioxide and heat, proved to be effective against the two target insects in stored dates. The findings encourage further studies for testing and evaluating the system under field conditions at a larger scale.     

Assessment of quantitative and qualitative losses of stored grains due to insect infestation in Ethiopia

This study was designed to determine the quantitative and qualitative losses of stored grains that arise from insect infestation in three districts of southwestern Ethiopia. One district was selected from each zone based on the production potential of the target crops (maize, sorghum, wheat and fababean). A total of 240 farmers’ stores from all districts were randomly selected. The grain samples used in the present study were stored for 5 different time periods, ranging from 1 to 5 months and from the same farmers’ stores, to determine grain weight loss, insect damage, and nutritional losses. Grain damage showed significant differences over the storage periods across the study districts. A similar trend was observed for weight loss for each of the grains in all districts. The moisture content of the grains decreased along the storage duration. Crude protein and crude fat contents significantly decreased as the storage duration increased in all traditional storage types. Furthermore, the crude fibre and ash contents of the different grain types significantly increased as the storage duration increased in all storage types. These results demonstrated that traditional storage structures have a substantial effect on quantitative and qualitative losses of stored grains. This finding has great implications for food security and hidden nutritional deficits in society. Thus, there is a need to develop and disseminate storage technologies that minimize losses and that are affordable for small farm holders.     

Nutritional,functional and biological properties of insect proteins: Processes for obtaining,consumption and future challenges

BackgroundConsuming insects as an alternative protein source is considered a future trend and a viable strategy that could potentially contribute to global food security. Insects are a non-conventional source of protein, either for human consumption directly or indirectly as a component in recomposed foods or added to feedstock mixtures. Moreover, these proteins have demonstrated a broad range of applications as peptides with antihypertensive, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. However, aspects such as food safety and processing of these proteins need further studies for their elucidation and optimization.Scope and approachIn this review, aspects of nutritional value and risks of insect consumption are reported. Additionally, conventional processing techniques and recent advances in insect protein extraction and production are presented. The application of bioactive peptides obtained from insect protein hydrolysates is reported, focusing on their potential antihypertensive, antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.Key findings and conclusionsInsect proteins have great advantages in terms of nutritional value, total protein level and amino acid profile. However, some safety concerns must be taken into consideration in large-scale production. The conventional processing of insects proteins is very particular, depending on several aspects such as species, larval stage, and cultivation, among others. Nonetheless, recent advances in insect protein production via enzymatic hydrolysis and heterologous expression have shown a promising technology for the study and exploitation of their bioactive properties, such as the antimicrobial, antioxidant and antihypertensive (inhibition of ACE) activity of insect peptides.     

Field trials on the efficacy of Beauveria bassiana,diatomaceous earth and Imidacloprid for the protection of wheat grains from four major stored grain insect pests

We assessed the insecticidal efficacy of Beauveria bassiana, diatomaceous earth (DE) and the neonicotinoid Imidacloprid against four major insect species of stored grain pests during field trials conducted on small farms located in four districts of Punjab, Pakistan. In each district, a 40 kg lot of wheat grain was admixed with B. bassiana (3 × 10¹⁰ conidia kg⁻¹), DE (150 ppm) and Imidacloprid (5.0 ppm) alone and in different combinations. Each lot was divided subsequently into four equal parts (10 kg each), packed in polypropylene bags, artificially infested, labeled and stored at the farms under natural environmental conditions up to 6 months. Sampling was carried out every 30 d to record the total number of dead and alive adults, as well as the percent of grain damage in treated and untreated (control) grains. Results revealed a significant difference among the treatments, test insect species and the storage period. For each district, the combined treatments provided better control of all tested insect species compared with each treatment alone. The least number of surviving adults and minimum percent grain damage was observed for Imidacloprid and DE combination, but was outperformed by the DE treatment with B. bassiana for long-term protection. For all grain protectants, we obtained the same order of susceptibility level among the test species (i.e. Liposcelis paeta > Cryptolestes ferrugineus > Rhyzopertha dominica > Tribolium castaneum). The results of the present study suggested that DE, insect pathogenic fungi and Imidacloprid can be effectively used for the protection of wheat stored at small-scale farmer's fields.     

Prevalence and diversity of Wolbachia bacteria infecting insect pests of stored products

Wolbachia are common bacterial symbionts of insects. Because infections of these bacteria can alter the reproduction and biology of the host, there is interest in the potential use of Wolbachia to control populations of pest species. To advance this research, we screened 38 species (88 populations from 16 countries) of stored-product insect pests for Wolbachia infections. Infections were detected in nine species of Coleoptera (Anobiidae – Lasioderma serricorne (Fabricius), Stegobium paniceum (Linnaeus); Curculionidae – Sitophilus oryzae (Motschulsky), Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky; Dermestidae – Attagenus unicolor (Brahm), Dermestes lardarius Linnaeus; Silvanidae – Oryzaephilus mercator (Fauvel), Oryzaephilus surinamensis (Linnaeus); Tenebrionidae – Tribolium confusum Jaquelin Du Val), one species of Hymenoptera (Trichogrammatidae – Trichogramma deion Pinto & Oatman), and one species of Lepidoptera (Pyralidae – Ephestia kuehniella Zeller). Phylogenetic analyses based on wsp gene sequences identified all Wolbachia isolates as members of Supergroups A or B. Additional sequences for the genes gatB, coxA, hcpA, fbpA and ftsZ were obtained for use in multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to identify the sequence types to which the isolates belonged. Our results identify five new Wolbachia-insect associations and support previous findings that infections of Wolbachia in stored-product insect pests are members of Supergroups A or B.     

Novel implementation of laser ablation tomography as an alternative technique to assess grain quality and internal insect development in stored products

In the last century, there have been important advances in peering inside the internal grain environment. This has included electrical conductance mills, acoustical tools, near-infrared spectroscopy, and soft X-ray imaging. Each technique has their own advantages and limitations. In this current study, we describe a novel process for assessing grain quality and internal insect development in grain using laser ablation tomography (LATscan) and compare it to soft X-ray imaging for three life stages (larva, pupa, adult) of Sitophilus zeamais and Rhyzopertha dominica. Our results suggest that X-rays overestimated grain volume loss by about a quarter compared to LATscan. Moreover, LATscan produces a rich digital dataset on the level of microns that can be explored to ask biologically-relevant questions. We discuss the current limitations of LATscan in context with other techniques. Ultimately, the results highlight LATscan as a useful additional tool to further our understanding pest-commodity interactions in the postharvest supply chain.