Survey on relative abundance of stored grain pests in maize samples of different storage duration in Telangana

Abstract

To identify the species composition and relative abundance of stored grain pests in maize samples of different storage duration a survey was conducted at Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Rangareddy districts of Telangana during 2015-2016 in godowns of MARKFED, private seed companies and poultry feed factories. Insect pests detected during the survey in the samples of six months and one year old stocks were rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae; lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica; angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cereallela; rust red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum; rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica. Similar insect pests were recorded in two years old stocks except rice moth. Sitophilus oryzae found to be more predominant (14.73, 22.86 and 92.93 per 500g sample) in six months, one year and two years old stocks, respectively. While Corcyra cephalonica was least predominant among the stored grain pests (3.27 and 0.07 per 500g sample) in six months and one year old stocks, respectively. However, its relative abundance varied with storage duration, type of storage container used, type of seed and the source of a primary and secondary infestation.