Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Damage potential of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on wheat grains stored in hermetic and non-hermetic storage bags

  • Original Research Article
  • Published:
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Post-harvest storage of wheat in grain storage bags is commonly adopted practice in many developing countries, which offers a viable chemical-free approach to control storage insects. The damage potential of Tribolium castaneum in wheat grains stored in different storage bags at various storage periods was studied. A highly significant effect (P < 0.01) of the storage bags and storage periods was observed in variables measured (insect growth rate, damaged grains, grain weight loss and weight of insect feeding residues). The maximum mean insect growth rate (85.20 ± 2.80), percent damaged wheat grains (73.24 ± 0.17%), percent grain weight loss (21.14 ± 0.21%) and weight of insect feeding residues (2.15 ± 0.01 g) were recorded in wheat grains stored in cotton cloth bag at 150 d, whereas minimum mean insect growth rate (30.00 ± 0.00), percent damaged wheat grains (10.44 ± 0.16%), percent grain weight loss (0.82 ± 0.06%) and weight of insect feeding residues (0.22 ± 0.02 g) were recorded on wheat grains stored in hermetic bag due to 100% mortality of T. castaneum in hermetic bag at 30 d. A significant and positive correlation between storage periods, insect growth rate, damaged wheat grains, grain weight loss and weight of insect feeding residues was observed, except for the storage bags which were significantly and negatively correlated with other factors. In addition, the simple and linear regressions analysis were significant (P < 0.01), and all the equations for these analyses were fitted for the regression models and perfectly described the association between the dependent and independent variables. Hermetic bag proved resistance to external environment fluctuations in abiotic factors such as temperature and relative humidity. While grain moisture in all other bags fluctuated with external environment. The results showed that quantitative and qualitative losses of stored wheat grains depends not only the type of storage bags, but also on the storage periods. T. castaneum can have a negative impact on wheat grains stored in all storage bags except hermetic bag. So, it is recommended that hermetic bag be used at farmers’ level to achieve greater benefits by reducing T. castaneum infestation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

wks :

Weeks

d :

day

JB :

Jute bag

PPB :

Polypropylene bag

CCB :

Cotton cloth bag

HB :

Hermetic bag

PB :

Plastic bag

N d :

Number of damaged wheat grains

N :

Total number of wheat grains in sample

W u :

Weight of undamaged wheat grains

N u :

Number of undamaged wheat grains

W d :

Weight of damaged wheat grains

References

  • Abass AB, Ndunguru G, Mamiro P, Alenkhe B, Mlingi N, Bekunda M (2014) Post-harvest food losses in a maize-based farming system of semi-arid savannah area of Tanzania. J Stored Prod Res 57:49–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdullahi G, Muhamad R, Dzolkhifli O, Sinniah UR (2018) Damage potential of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on cocoa beans: Effect of initial adult population density and post infestation storage time. J Stored Prod Res 75:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmad E, Hussain I, Brooks JE (1995) Losses of stored foods due to rats at grain markets in Pakistan. Int. Biodeterior. Biodegrad. 36(1–2):125–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alavanja MC, Hoppin JA, Kamel F (2004) Health effects of chronic pesticide exposure: cancer and neurotoxicity. Annu Rev Public Health 25:155–197

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Amin R, Mondol R, Rahman F, Alam J, Habib R, Hossain T (2012) Evaluation of insecticidal activity of three plant extracts against adult Tribolium castaneum (Herbst). Biologija 58(2):37–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anankware JP, Ofori OD, Nuamah AK, Oluwole FA, Bonu-Ire M (2013) Triple-layer hermetic storage: A novel approach against Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Sitophilus zeamais (Mot) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Entomology, Ornithology & Herpetology 2:113

    Google Scholar 

  • Arthur FH (1996) Grain protectants: current status and prospects for the future. J Stored Prod Res 32(4):293–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Athanassiou CG, Hasan MM, Phillips TW, Aikins MJ, Throne JE (2015) Efficacy of methyl bromide for control of different life stages of stored-product psocids. J. Econ. Entomol. 108(3):1422–1428

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Athanassiou CG, Kavallieratos NG (2005) Insecticidal effect and adherence of PyriSec® in different grain commodities. Crop Prot 24(8):703–710

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Atta B, Rizwan M, Sabir AM, Yaqub M, Akhter M (2018) Field evaluation of rodenticides treated baits for the effective control of field-rats in rice crop. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 14(5):137–143

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Attia MA, Wahba TF, Mackled MI, Shawir MS (2017) Resistance Status and Associated Resistance Mechanisms to Certain Insecticides in Rice Weevil Sitophilus oryzae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Alexandria Journal of Agricultural Sciences 62(4):331–340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey SW, Banks HJ (1980). A review of recent studies of the effects of controlled atmospheres on stored product pests. In Developments in Agricultural Engineering (Vol. 1, pp. 101-118). Elsevier

  • Basavaraja H, Mahajanashetti SB, Udagatti NC (2007) Economic analysis of post-harvest losses in food grains in India: a case study of Karnataka. Agric Econ Res Rev 20:117–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Bashir MH, Mahmood SU, Khan MA, Afzal M, Zia K (2013) Estimation of nutritional losses caused by Rhizoglyphus Tritici (Acari: Acaridae) in stored wheat. Pak J Agric Sci 50(4):631–635

    Google Scholar 

  • Beti JA, Phillips TW, Smalley EB (1995) Effects of maize weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on production of aflatoxin B1 by Aspergillus flavus in stored corn. J. Econ. Entomol. 88(6):1776–1782

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bhargava MC, Kumawat KC (2010) Pests of stored grains and their management. New India Publishing, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • Blanco CA, Portilla M, Abel CA, Winters H, Ford R, Streett D, Cohen A (2009) Soybean flour and wheat germ proportions in artificial diet and their effect on the growth rates of the tobacco budworm, Heliothis virescens. J Insect Sci 9(1):59

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Boxall RA (2002) Damage and loss caused by the larger grain borer Prostephanus truncatus. Integr Pest Manag Rev 7(2):105–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell JF, Runnion C (2003) Patch exploitation by female red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum. J Insect Sci 3(1):20–24

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Chagnon M, Kreutzweiser D, Mitchell EA, Morrissey CA, Noome DA, Van der Sluijs JP (2015) Risks of large-scale use of systemic insecticides to ecosystem functioning and services. Environ. Sci. Pollut. Res. 22(1):119–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chattha SH, Hasfalina CM, Mirani BN, Mahadi MR, Lee TS (2016) Food grain losses associated with indigenous storage methods and development of storage facilities for food security. Int Food Res J 23:57–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen X, Wu L, Shan L, Zang Q (2018) Main factors affecting post-harvest grain loss during the sales process: A survey in nine provinces of china. Sustainability 10(3):661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choudhary AK, Kumari P (2010) Management of mycotoxin contamination in preharvest and post harvest crops: present status and future prospects. Journal of Phytology 2(7):37–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Compton JA, Floyd S, Ofosu A, Agbo B (1998) The modified count and weigh method: An improved procedure for assessing weight loss in stored maize cobs. J Stored Prod Res 34(4):277–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowell FE, Dowell CN (2017) Reducing grain storage losses in developing countries. Quality Assurance and Safety of Crops & Foods 9(1):93–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fields PG (2006) Effect of Pisum sativum fractions on the mortality and progeny production of nine stored-grain beetles. J Stored Prod Res 42(1):86–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ibrahim A (2015) Farmers’ practices and combinations of Malathion and neem seed powder management options on stored sorghum and maize insect pests at Bako, West Shoa, Ethiopia. Science, Technology and Arts Research Journal 4(1):50–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kale M, Balfors B, Mörtberg U, Bhattacharya P, Chakane S (2012) Damage to agricultural yield due to farmland birds, present repelling techniques and its impacts: an insight from the Indian perspective. Journal of Agricultural Technology 8(1):49–62

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamanula J, Sileshi GW, Belmain SR, Sola P, Mvumi BM, Nyirenda GKC, Nyirenda SP, Stevenson PC (2010) Farmers' insect pest management practices and pesticidal plant use in the protection of stored maize and beans in Southern Africa. International Journal of Pest Management 57(1):41–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Khattak SUK, Shafique M (1986) Varietal susceptibility studies of ten wheat cultivars flour to red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Pakistan Journal of Zoology 18(3):257–261

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimenju SC, De Groote H, Hellin H (2009). Preliminary Economic Analysis: Cost effectiveness of the use of improved storage methods by small scale farmers in east and southern Africa countries. International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) 17

  • Lamboni Y, Hell K (2009) Propagation of mycotoxigenic fungi in maize stores by post-harvest insects. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 29(1):31–39

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magan N, Aldred D (2007) Post-harvest control strategies: minimizing mycotoxins in the food chain. Int J Food Microbiol 119(1–2):131–139

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manandhar A, Milindi P, Shah A (2018) An overview of the post-harvest Grain storage practices of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Agriculture 8(4):57

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno-Martinez E, Jiménez S, Vázquez ME (2000) Effect of Sitophilus zeamais and Aspergillus chevalieri on the oxygen level in maize stored hermetically. J Stored Prod Res 36(1):25–36

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan TD, Baker P, Kramer KJ, Basibuyuk HH, Quicke DL (2003) Metals in mandibles of stored product insects: do zinc and manganese enhance the ability of larvae to infest seeds? J Stored Prod Res 39(1):65–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murdock LL, Margam V, Baoua I, Balfe S, Shade RE (2012) Death by desiccation: effects of hermetic storage on cowpea bruchids. J Stored Prod Res 49:166–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naseri B, Borzoui E, Majd S, Mansouri SM (2017) Influence of different food commodities on life history, feeding efficiency, and digestive enzymatic activity of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 110(5):2263–2268

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ognakossan KE, Tounou AK, Lamboni Y, Hell K (2013) Post-harvest insect infestation in maize grain stored in woven polypropylene and in hermetic bags. International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 33(1):71–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Opit GP, Thoms E, Phillips TW, Payton ME (2016) Effectiveness of sulfuryl fluoride fumigation for the control of phosphine-resistant grain insects infesting stored wheat. J. Econ. Entomol. 109(2):930–941

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paudyal S, Opit GP, Arthur FH, Bingham GV, Payton ME, Gautam SG, Noden B (2017a) Effectiveness of the ZeroFly® storage bag fabric against stored-product insects. J Stored Prod Res 73:87–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paudyal S, Opit GP, Osekre EA, Arthur FH, Bingham GV, Payton ME, Danso JK, Manu N, Nsiah EP (2017b) Field evaluation of the long-lasting treated storage bag, deltamethrin incorporated, (ZeroFly® Storage Bag) as a barrier to insect pest infestation. J Stored Prod Res 70:44–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perez-Mendoza J, Campbell JF, Throne JE (2014) Effect of abiotic factors on initiation of red flour beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) flight. J. Econ. Entomol. 107(1):469–472

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pires EM, Souza EQ, Nogueira RM, Soares MA, Dias TKR, Oliveira MA (2017) Damage caused by Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in stored Brazil nut. Scientific Electronic Archives 10:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pretheep-Kumar P, Mohan S, Ramaraju K (2007) Long-term efficacy of protein-enriched pea flour against Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) in wheat flour. J Cent Eur Agric 7(4):779–784

    Google Scholar 

  • Qasim MU, Muhammad WH, Jin-Jun W, Jamil M, Iqbal J (2013) Management of Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) with phosphine fumigation in relation to packaging materials and food types. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 45(6):1639–1645

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahman MM, Islam W, Ahmed KN (2009) Functional response of the predator Xylocoris flavipes to three stored product insect pests. Int J Agric Biol 11(3):316–320

    Google Scholar 

  • Rickman JF, Aquino E (2004) Appropriate technology for maintaining grain quality in small-scale storage. In Donahaye EJ, Navarro S, Bell C, Jayas D, Noyes R, Phillips TW (eds.) (2007), Proceedings of the International Conference on Controlled Atmosphere and Fumigation in Stored Products, Gold-Coast Australia 8-13th August 2004. FTIC Ltd. Publishing, Israel, pp 149–157

  • Riudavets J, Castañé C, Alomar O, Pons MJ, Gabarra R (2009) Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) as an alternative measure for controlling ten pests that attack processed food products. J Stored Prod Res 45(2):91–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saeed Q, Iqbal N, Ahmed F, Rehman S, Alvi AM (2016) Screening of different plant extracts against Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) under laboratory conditions. Science International (Lahore) 28:1219–1221

    Google Scholar 

  • Safavi SA, Mobki M (2012) Fumigant toxicity of essential oils from Citrus reticulata Blanco fruit peels against Tribolium castaneum Herbst (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Journal of Crop Protection 1(2):115–120

    Google Scholar 

  • Sallam MN (2017) Insect Damage: Post-Harvest Operations. FAO pp:1–37

  • Sami AJ, Bilal S, Khalid M, Nazir MT, Shakoori AR (2018) A Comparative Study of Inhibitory Properties of Saponins (derived from Azadirachta indica) for Acetylcholinesterase of Tribolium castaneum and Apis mellifera. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 50(2):725–733

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sarwar M (2015) Protecting dried fruits and vegetables against insect pests invasions during drying and storage. American Journal of Marketing Research 1(3):142–149

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafique M, Ahmad M, Chaudry MA (2006) Feeding preference and development of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst.) in wheat products. Pakistan Journal of Zoology 38(1):27–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Sidik M (1979). Extent of damage to stored milled rice by insect infestation. MSc. Thesis (Unpublished). Entomology Department, Kansas State University, U.S.A., pp 16

  • Stracener CL (1938) Control of insect pests of milled rice by improved storage bags. J. Econ. Entomol. 31(6):687–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sudini H, Rao GR, Gowda CLL, Chandrika R, Margam V, Rathore A, Murdock LL (2015) Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags for safe storage of groundnuts. J Stored Prod Res 64:133–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suleiman R, Bern CJ, Brumm TJ, Rosentrater KA (2018) Impact of moisture content and maize weevils on maize quality during hermetic and non-hermetic storage. J Stored Prod Res 78:1–10

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taiwo A, Bart-Plange A (2016) Factors responsible for post-harvest losses and their effects on rice producing farmers: A case study of Afife and Aveyime rice projects in the Volta region of Ghana. International Journal of Engineering and Technology 3(4):1014–1022

    Google Scholar 

  • Tefera T, Mugo S, Likhayo P (2011) Effects of insect population density and storage time on grain damage and weight loss in maize due to the maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais and the larger grain borer Prostephanus truncatus. Afr J Agric Res 6(10):2249–2254

    Google Scholar 

  • Thamaga-Chitja JM, Hendriks SL, Ortmann GF, Green M (2004) Impact of maize storage on rural household food security in Northern Kwazulu-Natal. Journal of Consumer Sciences 32(1):8–15

    Google Scholar 

  • Togola A, Seck PA, Glitho IA, Diagne A, Adda C, Toure A, Nwilene FE (2013) Economic losses from insect pest infestation on rice stored on-farm in Benin. J Appl Sci 13(2):278–285

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tripathi AK, Singh AK, Upadhyay S (2009) Contact and fumigant toxicity of some common spices against the storage insects Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). International Journal of Tropical Insect Science 29(3):151–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsado EK, Gana AS, Yusuf ST, Saniya E, Musa A (2015) Effect of storage period of paddy rice on grain fissures and breakages of milled rice. Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology 9(2):8–17

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tubbs T, Baributsa D, Woloshuk C (2016) Impact of opening hermetic storage bags on grain quality, fungal growth and aflatoxin accumulation. J Stored Prod Res 69:276–281

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Upadhyay RK, Ahmad S (2011) Management strategies for control of stored grain insect pests in farmers stores and public ware houses. World Journal of Agricultural Sciences 7(5):527–549

    Google Scholar 

  • Utono IM (2013) Assessment of grain loss due to insect pest during storage for small-scale farmers of Kebbi. IOSR J Agric Vet Sci 3:38-50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vales MI, Rao GR, Sudini H, Patil SB, Murdock LL (2014) Effective and economic storage of pigeonpea seed in triple layer plastic bags. J Stored Prod Res 58:29–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vanhanen LP, Savage GP (2006) The use of peroxide value as a measure of quality for walnut flour stored at five different temperatures using three different types of packaging. Food Chem. 99(1):64–69

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Varnava A, Navarro S, Donahaye E (1995) Long-term hermetic storage of barley in PVC-covered concrete platforms under Mediterranean conditions. Postharvest Biol Technol 6(1–2):177–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent C, Weintraub PG, Hallman GJ, Fleurat-Lessard F (2009) Insect management with physical methods in pre-and post-harvest situations. Concepts, Tactics, Strategies and Case Studies 309

  • Wambugu PW, Mathenge PW, Auma EO, Van Rheenen HA (2009) Efficacy of traditional maize (Zea mays L.) seed storage methods in western Kenya. Afr J Food Agric Nutr Dev 9(4):1110–1128

    Google Scholar 

  • Wasala WMCB, Dissanayake CAK, Gunawardhane CR, Wijewardhane RMNA, Gunathilake DMCC, Thilakarathne BMKS (2016) Efficacy of insecticide incorporated bags against major insect pests of stored paddy in Sri Lanka. Procedia Food Science 6:164–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams SB, Baributsa D, Woloshuk C (2014) Assessing Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bags to mitigate fungal growth and aflatoxin contamination. J Stored Prod Res 59:190–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang FL, Zhu F, Lei CL (2010) Garlic essential oil and its major component as fumigants for controlling Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) in chambers filled with stored grain. J Pest Sci 83(3):311–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rice Research Institute, Kala Shah Kaku, Punjab, Pakistan

    Bilal Atta, Muhammad Rizwan & Arshed Makhdoom Sabir

  2. Integrated Pest Management Cell, Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

    Muhammad Dildar Gogi

  3. Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International, Rawalpindi, Pakistan

    Kazam Ali

Authors
  1. Bilal Atta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Muhammad Rizwan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Arshed Makhdoom Sabir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Muhammad Dildar Gogi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kazam Ali
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bilal Atta.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Atta, B., Rizwan, M., Sabir, A.M. et al. Damage potential of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on wheat grains stored in hermetic and non-hermetic storage bags. Int J Trop Insect Sci 40, 27–37 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-019-00047-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-019-00047-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation