The effect of grain breakage on fecundity, development, survival, and population increase in maize of Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

• Published in: Journal of stored products research Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 87 - 94
• Main Authors: Li, Li, Arbogast, R.T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1991; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Coleoptera; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Invertebrates; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; Pests of stored products; Tenebrionidae; Tribolium castaneum; Sitophilus zeamais; Monocotyledones; Population growth; Zea mays; Grains; Growth rate; Coleoptera; Insecta; Corn; Stored food product; Tenebrionidae; Survival; Cereal crop; Pest; Gramineae; Arthropoda; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Population dynamics; Tribolium castaneum; Curculionidae; Invertebrata; Damage; Fecundity
• ISSN: 0022-474X; 1879-1212
• DOI: 10.1016/0022-474X(91)90017-7

The intrinsic rate of increase in a field population of Tribolium castaneum on undamaged grain, commercial grain, cracked grain and maize flour was estimated at 30°C, 75% r.h. Egg production of T. castaneum on the above media was significantly different and the ranking can be expressed as flour > cracked maize > commercial maize > undamaged maize. Developmental rates and survival rates were significantly higher on flour and cracked maize than on commercial grain and undamaged grain. On commercial grain, populations could increase twenty times per generation. Although damage to grain is not absolutely necessary for young larvae to survive and for females to lay eggs, fecundity was reduced to a minimum, survival was very low, and development was delayed on undamaged grain. Population increase would thus be so reduced that populations may decline to extinction. Previous infestation by other species may help initial infestation of whole kernels by T. castaneum, although the results of this study showed that T. castaneum can develop on whole maize kernels alone under optimal conditions.