STORAGE INSECT PESTS AND THEIR DAMAGE SYMPTOMS: AN OVERVIEW

Stored product pests gain access to the grain storage from the standing crop in the field to various stages of grain processing and storage. Although, about one thousand species of insects have been associated with stored products in different parts of the world, a few pests are considered as pests causing severe damage to the stored grains. The stored grain insect pests can be categorized on the basis of their feeding behaviour as internal and external feeder or as major and minor pests based on the severity of damage, they cause. This paper gives an overview of damage symptoms and biology of some of the major pests of stored grains viz., rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae, lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominaca, khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium, red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, cigarette beetle, Lasioderma serricorne, drug store beetle, Stegobium paniceum, pulse beetles Callosobruchus spp., Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cereallela, rice moth Corcyra cephalonica, saw toothed grain beetle Oryzaephilus surinamensis, long headed flour beetle, Latheticus oryzae, and almond moth Cadra cautella.

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