Field trials to control insect pests of farm-stored maize in Zambia

Severe infestations of Sitophilus zeamais Motsch and Sitotroga cerealella Oliv. occur in maize cobs stored under farm conditions in Zambia causing up to 92% damaged grains 8 months after harvest. Shelling the maize reduced S. cerealella damage to low levels and also stabilized the moisture content of the grain providing a more suitable substrate for insecticide application and c control of S. zeamais. Malathion at 12 ppm a.i., tetrachlorvinphos (12 ppm), and jodfenphos (12 ppm), applied as dust admixtures to shelled maize in traditional mud-walled, timber and thatch storage cribs, all kept damaged grains below 10% up to 10 months after harvest. Pirimiphos-methyl (4 ppm) and fenitrothion (2 ppm) maintained these low damage levels up to 8 months after harvest, but there was evidence of continued S. cerealella infestation with these two insecticides.