Insect pests

Insect pests

1. I nsect Pests of Stored Grains and Pulses NIRBHAY SUDHIR PIMPLE DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY ABASAHEB GARWARE COLLEGE KARVE ROAD PUNE-4.

2. [email protected]/zoologgy

3. Stored Entomology - The study of the insect pests of stored grains and pulses is called storage entomology . [email protected]/zoologgy

4. These are of two types: Primary Insect Pests or Internal Feeders which can damage all kinds of stored grains Attack whole grains Larvae feed and develop within the kernel Secondary Insect Pests or External Feeders that attack only the broken kernel or milled grains( Feed on grain dust) Can not damage whole grain Follow internal feeders, i.e. damaged grain Grain in poor condition, microbial activity. [email protected]/ zoologgy

5. Two Types Of Insects : Beetles Moths [email protected]/zoologgy

6. S ome of the pests are : BEETLES : Pulse Beetle ( Callosobruchus maculatus ) Rice Weevil ( Sitophilus oryza ) Wheat Weevil ( Trogoderma granarium ) Rust Red Flour Beetle ( Tribolium castaneum ) Lesser Grain Borer ( Rhizopertha dominica ) MOTH : Rice Moth ( Corcyra caphalonica ) [email protected]/zoologgy

7. Pulse Beetle ( Callosobruchus maculatus ) : [email protected]/zoologgy

8. SYSTEMATIC POSITION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Chrysomelidae Genus: Callosobruchus Species: C. maculatus [email protected]/zoologgy

9. DiSTRiBUTiON: First reported from china in 1758 cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica [email protected]/zoologgy

10. FEEdS ON : It is a serious pest of stored grain as well as standing crop in the fields. Feeds on pulses (cowpea or mung dal) or gram. It also attacks practically all other pulses. [email protected]/zoologgy

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12. LiFE HiSTORY : Complete metamorphosis Egg  Larva (Grub)  Pupa  Adult. Chewing type of mouthparts. [email protected]/zoologgy

13. Female lays clear, small, whitish eggs shiny, oval to spindle-shaped, and about 0.75 millimeters long, singly on the stored seeds of the uppermost layer or on the green pods in a field. Slender grubs emerge in 4-7 days. [email protected]/zoologgy

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15. They bore into the seeds or pods, feed voraciously and become full grown in 2-3 weeks in summer. Full grown grub is 6mm. long, white, fleshy, heavily wrinkled creature. Grub pupates within the seed . [email protected]/zoologgy

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17. The pupa is an oval, white structure. Pupation takes about 4 days in summer, longer in winter. The adults come out by cutting a circular hole in the cover and shift to the uppermost layers of the seeds. They copulate immediately after emergence and female starts laying eggs the next day. [email protected]/zoologgy

18. The life span of the adult varies from 5 to 20 days according to the climatic conditions. There are 7 to 8 overlapping generation in a year. Larva hibernates in winter. The pulse beetle have tendency to shift to the fields after a few generation in the godowns. [email protected]/zoologgy

19. GENERAL APPEARANCE : The adult pulse beetle is a chocolate colored insect, about 3mm. long and also has two black spots. It has relatively small head with blunt rostrum, long antenna with serrated inner margin, distinct prothorax with two white prominences, elytra not fully covering the last abdominal segment. [email protected]/zoologgy

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21. The beetle is sexually dimorphic and males are easily distinguished from females. The females are sometimes larger than males, but this is not true of all strains. Females are darker overall, while males are brown. The plate covering the end of the abdomen is large and dark in color along the sides in females, and smaller without the dark areas in males. [email protected]/zoologgy

22. DAMAGE : C. maculatus is a serious pest of stored grain as well as standing crops in the field. The grubs bore into the seeds and are mainly responsible for the damage. Maximum damage occurs during April to October. Entire contents of the seeds are consumed, leaving only testa behind. [email protected]/zoologgy

23. The intensity of infestation depends on humidity and temperature. Infested seeds become unfit for human consumption. One or more circular holes about 1mm. wide in the seeds mark the exist of the grubs and indicate infestation. [email protected]/zoologgy

24. Rice Weevil ( Sitophilus oryza ) [email protected]/zoologgy

25. SYSTEMATIC POSITION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae Subfamily: Dryophthorinae Genus: Sitophilus Species: S. oryzae [email protected]/zoologgy

26. DiSTRiBUTiON: All over the world. It is native of India and a serious pest of rice here. [email protected]/zoologgy

27. FEEdS ON : Feed on rice grains, less commonly on wheat and maize grains. Only skin of the grain is left behind. [email protected]/zoologgy

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29. LiFE HiSTORY : Complete metamorphosis Egg  Larva (Grub)  Pupa  Adult. Chewing type of mouthparts. [email protected]/zoologgy

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31. The female weevil lays glistening, oval, whitish eggs measuring 0.66X0.3 mm. from April to October in 1mm. deep holes in the grains made with mandibles. Generally one egg is deposited in one grain, 2-6 eggs per day and up to 300 over their lifetime. After laying, the hole is plugged with a gelatinous secretion. Small, white, fleshy, legless larvae, called grubs, emerge in just 4 days in warm and in 6 to 9 days in cold months. [email protected]/zoologgy

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33. The grubs burrow deeper, where they feed and become full grown (5mm. long) in 19 to 34 days. They pupate within the grain for 6 to 14 days. The pupa is at first dirty white, but later becomes dark brown. The adult weevils start breeding as soon as they emerge from the grains. [email protected]/zoologgy

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35. They live for 4 to 5 months. A single female lays about 250 eggs during her life 5 to 6 broods. A complete life cycle takes about a month. The duration of various stages varies with the weather conditions, especially humidity and temperature. [email protected]/zoologgy

36. GENERAL APPEARANCE : Adult rice weevils are able to fly, and can survive for up to two years An adult weevil is a small, reddish-brown beetle, about 3mm. long and with a prominent curved snout bearing a pair of stout jaws at the tip. Four light reddish or yellowish spots occur on the elytra. Male is generally smaller than female. The adult beetles hibernate in winter in cracks and cervices or under wheat bags in the godowns. [email protected]/zoologgy

37. DAMAGE : The rice weevil is a serious pest in our country. Both grubs and adults feed on rice grains, less commonly on wheat and maize grains. Only the skin of the grains is left behind and the grains becomes incapable of germination and unfit for human consumption. [email protected]/zoologgy

38. Nearly 50% of the damage in grain stores is due to this pest. The maximum damage occurs from August to September. The pest prefers humid climate and multiplies enormously in stores left undisturbed and uncared for. [email protected]/zoologgy

39. Batocera rufomaculata ( De Geer , 1775) ( MANGO STEM BORER) Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Suborder: Polyphaga Family: Cerambycidae Genus: Batocera Species: B .  rufomaculata [email protected]/zoologgy

40.   Batocera rufomaculata ( Cerembycidae : Coleoptera ) Occasional pest Amlet and mulgoa varities are highly susceptible Also attacks fig, rubber, jack, eucalyptus etc. Appearance:   Adult large, grayish with two pink spots and lateral spines on thorax Grubs white, long with well developed head Biology life cycle : One year Eggs are laid singly on bark IP- 10-15 days: LP- 3-6 months; PP- 1-2 months Pupation inside the tunnel [email protected]/zoologgy

41. Nature of damage: Grubs feed by tunneling through the bark of branches/stem Make irregular galleries in the stem Chewed material and excreta will be thrown out of the branches Damage symptoms: Wilting of branches and main stem Oozing of dark liquid from entry hole and accumulation of frass on the ground Management: Mechanical removal of grubs from the stem If not inject DDVP or Chloroform through entry hole plug it with mud [email protected]/zoologgy

42. Leucinodes orbonalis Guenée , 1854 BRINJAL FRUIT BRORER Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Crambidae Genus: Leucinodes Species: L .  orbonalis [email protected]/zoologgy

43. Leuci nodes orbonalis The  eggplant fruit and shoot borer  or  brinjal fruit and shoot borer , is a moth species in the genus  Leucinodes . It is found in the tropics of  Asia , and it is a minor pest in the  Americas . APPEARANCE: Imagines  have a forewing length of 8.5–10.5 mm in males and 9.5–12 mm in females. The forewing ground colour is white, with a light- to dark-brown basal area, delimited by a dark-brown to grey antemedial line. [email protected]/zoologgy

44. The median area has a pale-brown, faint proximal discoidal stigma. The distal discoidal stigma is pale brown, reaching from the costa to the forewing centre. The central dorsum has a prominent orange to dark brown L-shaped or triangular spot leading to the forewing centre and often meeting with the distal discoidal stigma. The external area is pale brown to grey with a dotted marginal line [email protected]/zoologgy

45. NATURE OF DAMAGE: Eggs are laid during the night on the lower surface of the young leaves, green stems, flower buds, or calyces of the fruits. Within an hour of hatching, the caterpillar (larva) bores into the nearest tender shoot, flower, or fruit. Soon after boring into shoots or fruits, they plug the entrance hole with excreta. In young plants, caterpillars are reported to bore inside petioles and midribs of large leaves. As a result, the affected leaves may drop off. Larval feeding inside shoots results in wilting of the young shoot. [email protected]/zoologgy

46. The damaged shoots ultimately drop off, disturbing plant growth and reducing fruit number and size. New shoots may grow but this delays crop maturity. Larval feeding inside the fruit results in the destruction of fruit tissue, making even slightly damaged fruit unfit for marketing [email protected]/zoologgy

47. CROP DAMAGE: The primary larval hostplant is eggplant or brinjal ,  Solanum melongena , where most of the economical impact of this species is reported. Secondary host plants comprise  tomato ,  potato ,  nightshade ,  Sodom apple ,  Ethiopian nightshade ,  potatotree ,  nipplefruit ,  black nightshade ,  turkey berry ,  tropical soda apple ,  Solanum anguivi ,  Solanum xanthocarpum ,  cape gooseberry , and  Physalis minima [email protected]/zoologgy

48. CONTROL MEASURES: Several other  integrated pest management  strategies: sex pheromones, physical and mechanical barriers, cultural practices, use of bio-pesticides and biological agents. botanical pesticides and safer chemical pesticides has been suggested to combat this pest. Intercropping can be used to reduce infestation  [email protected]/zoologgy

49. BLISTER BEETLE [email protected]/zoologgy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea Family: Meloidae

50. DISCRIPTION: Adult blister beetles are often brightly coloured , the need for camouflage being eliminated by their ability to secrete cantharidin . They range between 3 and 20 mm (0.1 to 0.8 inch) in length, with the majority between 10 and 15 mm (0.4 and 0.6 inch). Their long, slender, leathery bodies are covered by metallic green or blue wing covers, often marked with bands or stripes. [email protected]/zoologgy

51. Blister beetle , (family Meloidae ), any of approximately 2,500  species  of beetles (insect order Coleoptera ) that secrete an irritating substance,  cantharidin , which is collected mainly from  Mylabris  and the European species  Lytta vesicatoria ,  commonly called  Spanish fly . Cantharidin is used medically as a topical skin irritant to remove warts. In the past, when inducing blisters was a common remedy for many ailments, cantharidin was commonly used for this purpose. It was also a major ingredient in so-called love potions. Blister beetles are both helpful and harmful to humans. The  larvae  eat  grasshopper  eggs, and, if abundant, adults can destroy crops. [email protected]/zoologgy

52. LIFE CYCLE: The female lays between 3,000 and 4,000 eggs; only a few of the young survive, however, because of their complicated and haphazard life history ( hypermetamorphosis ). The female of  Sitaris muralis  deposits masses of eggs near solitary bees’ nests. The larvae hatch from the eggs and remain dormant throughout the winter. In the spring tiny active forms ( triungulins ), sometimes known as  bee  lice, attach themselves to a bee. They feed on eggs and stored food in the bee nest as they pass through several more developmental stages, changing from a larva to a legless grub. When the pupal stage is complete, the newly emerged adult drops to the ground and begins feeding on  cultivated  plants. [email protected]/zoologgy

53. HOST PLANT: Blister beetles will feed on just about any leaf that grows in your garden. They’re found on tomato, potato, eggplant, peppers and other solanaceous vegetables as well leafy greens. In mid and late summer, they can arrive in swarms, seemingly overnight and because of their numbers, will do great damage in a short time. t’s toxic effect on livestock, known as  cantharidin toxicosis , is the greatest threat posed by blister beetles. Infestations of alfalfa and other hay can ruin it for sale or feeding. [email protected]/zoologgy

54. CONTROL MEASURES: Frequent and careful inspection of home gardens can go a long way towards controlling beetle damage. Their numbers increase gradually in the growing season’s early months, and an observant gardener can keep them from doing much damage. Hand-picking can be effective in home gardens, particularly when their numbers are low. But never handle blister beetles with bare hands. Always wear gloves. Brush the beetles off plants into a small container with some soapy water. If shaken from plants, the beetles will often lie in the dirt and play possum rather than scurry away. Take advantage and gather them carefully. [email protected]/zoologgy

55. Dysdercus cingulatus [email protected]/zoologgy

56. Dysdercus cingulatus Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Hemiptera Family: Pyrrhocoridae Genus: Dysdercus Species: D .  cingulatus [email protected]/zoologgy

57. Dysdercus cingulatus Mark of identification: Dysdercus cingulatus  grows to a length of 12 to 18 mm (0.47 to 0.71 in ). It is mainly red but has a white collar and three black spots. It is closely related and very similar to  Dysdercus koenigii  but  D. cingulatus  is slightly larger and the femora have varying amounts of black while  D. koenigii  has completely red femora. [email protected]/zoologgy

58. LIFE CYCLE Eggs: Dysdercus eggs look very much like microscopic hens' eggs. They are pale yellow are laid singly or in small, loose clusters in sand, debris, or decaying vegetable matter. They hatch in about one week. Nymphs:  There are five nymphal stages or instars. The first usually is spent underground. The duration of each of the first four stages typically averages four to five days during midsummer, but the fifth stage commonly takes about twice as long. All five stages require from 21 to 35 days to complete development ( Sprenkel 2000). The nymphs are generally red. The fourth and fifth instars have dark wing pads, and the dividing lines between abdominal segments become very distinct as maturity is approached. [email protected]/zoologgy

59. Nature of damage This insect has been a severe pest of oranges on occasions. In puncturing an orange, a cotton stainer often inserts its beak full length with no visible wound; nevertheless, a single puncture may cause the orange to drop in a few hours from the tree and to decay in one or two days (Hubbard 1885). There are old reports of orange trees well reddened with cotton stainers in which whole crops were lost. Some other hosts of  Dysdercus   suturellus  include tangerines, okra pods, ripe papaya fruit , pods and blossoms of oleander, seed pods of Jamaica sorrel ( Hibiscus sabdariffa ), tree hibiscus ( Hibiscus syriacus ), Turk's cap, teaweed ( Sida  sp.), Caesar's weed or Spanish cocklebur ( Urena lobata ), Spanish needle ( Bidens pilosa ), seaside mahoe or portiatree ( Thespesia populnea ), rose buds and blossoms, eggplant, nightshade, and guava. [email protected]/zoologgy

60. The feeding activities of cotton stainers on cotton produce a stain on the lint which reduces its value. A few authorities have reported the stain comes from excrement of the bugs. However, most have stated that the stain primarily is a result of the bug puncturing the seeds in the developing bolls causing a juice to exude that leaves an indelible stain. Feeding by puncturing flower buds or young cotton bolls usually causes a reduction in size, or the fruiting body may abort and drop to the ground. [email protected]/zoologgy

61. CONTROL MEASURES No cotton or cotton seed or other host plant debris that could serve as breeding material should be left on the ground. For small infestations, colonies of cotton stainers on plants can be shaken into a bucket of soapy water. " Tanglefoot " around tree trunks will keep young bugs from crawling up to fruits and blossoms . Small heaps of seeds, fruits, or bits of sugarcane can be used as baits to attract cotton stainers . Then the insects can be killed with a spray of soapy water. Insecticides can be used on ornamentals and fruits, but tolerances must be observed on edible fruits. Follow label recommendations. Management information for  Dysdercus  on ornamentals in Florida is very limited. [email protected]/zoologgy

62. Ixodes ricinus , a hard tick [email protected]/zoologgy

63. Ixodes ricinus , a hard tick Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Chelicerata Class: Arachnida Subclass: Acari Superorder: Parasitiformes Order: Ixodida Superfamily: Ixodoidea Leach , 1815 [email protected]/zoologgy

64. IDENTIFICATION MARKS  Adult ticks are approximately 3 to 5 mm in length depending on age, sex, species, and "fullness". Ticks are external  parasites , living by  feeding on the blood  of mammals, birds, and sometimes reptiles and amphibians . Ticks are widely distributed around the world, especially in warm, humid climates . Their  cephalothorax  and abdomen are completely fused. In addition to having a hard shield on their dorsal surfaces, known as the scutum , hard ticks have a beak-like structure at the front containing the mouthparts, whereas soft ticks have their mouthparts on the underside of their bodies.  [email protected]/zoologgy

65. NATURE OF DAMAGE Ticks are implicated in the transmission of a number of infections caused by  pathogens  such as  bacteria ,  viruses , and  protozoa . Occasionally , the tick harbors more than one type of pathogen, making diagnosis of the infection more difficult. Species of the bacterial genus  Rickettsia  are responsible for  typhus ,  rickettsialpox ,  boutonneuse fever ,  African tick bite fever ,  Rocky Mountain spotted fever ,  Flinders Island spotted fever , and  Queensland tick typhus  (Australian tick typhus ).  Other tick-borne diseases include  Lyme disease  and  Q fever ,   Colorado tick fever ,  Crimean–Congo hemorrhagic fever ,  tularemia , tick-borne  relapsing fever ,  babesiosis ,  ehrlichiosis ,  Bourbon virus , and  tick-borne meningoencephalitis , as well as bovine  anaplasmosis  and the  Heartland virus .  In the United States, Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in the country . [email protected]/zoologgy

66. Control measures Reduce the risk of tick bites by wearing long pants with covered ankles when walking in areas with a lot of ticks. Using repellents containing DEET or Icaridin on clothes will also reduce the risk of tick bites. Ticks are easier to spot on light clothes.  Walk on paths in tick areas instead of high grass, heath and scrub. Vets can prescribe agents against ticks for use on cats and dogs.  When you come home after walking in tick areas, check yourself, children, dogs and cats thoroughly. Ticks like to seek out thin-skinned places such as behind the knee, groin, armpits and behind the ears, but can be found elsewhere on the body [email protected]/zoologgy

67. Wheat Weevil ( Trogoderma granarium ) [email protected]/zoologgy

68. SYSTEMATIC POSITION : Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Dermestidae Genus: Trogoderma Species: T. granarium [email protected]/zoologgy

69. DiSTRiBUTiON: The khapra beetle is native to Punjab, India. It has also been discovered in North America. It has become established in a number of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, Asian and African countries. It has also been discovered in North America Specially abundant in places having a temp 90 to 100°F [email protected]/zoologgy

70. FEEdS ON : Feeds on wheat. Occasionally attacks jowar, oat, rice and maize and rarely gram also. Infest top layers of the stored material. [email protected]/zoologgy

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72. LiFE HiSTORY : Complete metamorphosis Egg  Larva (Grub)  Pupa  Adult. Chewing type of mouthparts. [email protected]/zoologgy

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74. The female wheat weevil lays eggs, cylindrical with one end more rounded and the other more pointed, about 0.7 mm long and 0.25 mm broad, weighing about 0.02 mg singly among the grains. Sometimes they are laid in groups of 2-3 glued to a grains. The pointy end has a number of spine-like projections. The eggs are initially a milky white, translucent, but over several hours turn a pale yellowish color. [email protected]/zoologgy

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76. Yellow white, 1.5mm. long, hairy grub emerge in 5 to 9 days under proper conditions of humidity and temperature. They bore into the grains and feed on the content. The female larvae become full-grown in 24 to 40 days and male in 20 to 30 days. Mature larvae are up to 5 millimeters long and are covered in dense, reddish-brown hair with yellowish- brown transverse bands across the body. The larvae moult 4 times during this period. [email protected]/zoologgy

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78. Pupation occurs in the last larval skin among the grains and takes 4 to 6 days. The adult usually emerge in April or early may. They pair 2 to 3 days after emergence, and the females start laying eggs in 1 to 3 days. The female lives for 16 to 32 days after maturity, and lays 125 eggs during her life. Breeding occurs in April to October and there are 4 to 5 broods in a year. [email protected]/zoologgy

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80. Larvae hibernate in winter in cracks and cervices of the walls and floor or in other sheltered places. The beetle prefers hot, dry conditions and can be found in areas where grain and other potential food is stored, such as pantries, malthouses, grain and fodder processing plants, and stores of used grain sacks or crates. [email protected]/zoologgy

81. GENERAL APPEARANCE : The adult beetle oval, dark-brown, about 2 to 3 mm. long. It has retractile head with clubbed antennae. The entire body bears fine hair. There is no demarcation between thorax and abdomen. The males are smaller and darker than the females. [email protected]/zoologgy

82. DAMAGE : The rice weevil is a major pest of wheat. Occasionally attacks jowar, oat, rice and maize and rarely gram also. Main damage is caused by the grubs. Luckily, they infest only the top layers of the stored material, usually not going deeper than 50cm. Maximum damage is caused from July to October. [email protected]/zoologgy

83. Rust Red Flour Beetle ( Tribolium castaneum ) [email protected]/zoologgy

84. SYSTEMATIC POSITION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Tenebrionidae Genus: Tribolium Species: T. castaneum [email protected]/zoologgy

85. DiSTRiBUTiON : Occur all over the world. Most common pest of wheat flour. [email protected]/zoologgy

86. FEEdS ON : Feeds on wheat grains. Damage flour and flour products and grains damaged by other pests. It also attacks dry fruits and prepared cereal foods such as cornflakes. [email protected]/zoologgy

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88. LiFE HiSTORY : Complete metamorphosis Egg  Larva (Grub)  Pupa  Adult. Chewing type of mouthparts. [email protected]/zoologgy

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90. The rust-red flour beetle breeds from April to October. The adults mate 1 or 2 days after emergence. The female lays white, transparent, cylindrical, sticky eggs in the flour or the frassy material among the grains and other food stuffs. Flour or dust adheres to them. Worm like, yellowish-white, 1 mm. long larvae emerge in 4 to 10 days, and become reddish yellow, hairy, 6mm. long full-grown larvae in 22 to 25 days after 6 or 7 moults. [email protected]/zoologgy

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92. Pupation occurs in the flour. Yellowish, hairy pupa produces an adult in 6 to 9 days. The entire life history is completed in 26 to 30 days in summer, winter is passed mostly in the adult stage. [email protected]/zoologgy

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94. GENERAL APPEARANCE : The adult is long-lived, sometimes living more than three years. The adult is about 3.5mm. long, reddish brown beetle with bent and clubbed antennae. It is an active insect, capable of short flight, but generally remains concealed in flour. [email protected]/zoologgy

95. DAMAGE : Both the larvae and the adults cause damage to flour and flour products and also to the grains damaged by other pests. The flour may turn greyish and mouldy with unpleasant smell, that makes it unfit for human consumption. [email protected]/zoologgy

96. Lesser Grain Borer ( Rhizopertha dominica ) [email protected]/zoologgy

97. SYSTEMATIC POSITION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Bostrichidae Genus: Rhyzopertha Species: R. dominica [email protected]/zoologgy

98. DiSTRiBUTiON: Originally inhabited India, but has now spread practically all over the world. It is commonly called susri. [email protected]/zoologgy

99. FEEdS ON : Feeds on cereals, pulses and millets. They feed on flour formed by the boring beetles or they enter damaged grains and feed inside them. [email protected]/zoologgy

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101. LiFE HiSTORY : Complete metamorphosis Egg  Larva (Grub)  Pupa  Adult. Chewing type of mouthparts. [email protected]/zoologgy

102. Rhizopertha dominica breeds from April to November, and passes winter hibernated as larva or adult. The female lays about 0.67mm. long, glistening white eggs that are rounded at one end and pointed at the other. They are deposited singly in the frass or glued to the grains in small groups. The larvae emerge in 5 to 9 days. [email protected]/zoologgy

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104. They feed on flour formed by the boring beetles or they enter damaged grains and feed inside them. They undergo 4 or 5 moults and become 5mm. long, full grown larvae in 25 to 50 days. Pupation occurs within the grains for 4 to 7 days. Adult cuts its way out of the grains. There are 5 to 6 broods in a year. [email protected]/zoologgy

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106. GENERAL APPEARANCE : The adult is a 3mm. long, shinning, dark-brown or black, cylindrical beetle. The deflexed head is covered by a hood like pronotum and bears clubbed antennae. The sexes are alike. Polyandry and polygamy are common in this pest. The adults can fly from one godown to another. [email protected]/zoologgy

107. DAMAGE : Both the larvae and the adults cause damage to the grains, reducing them to mere perforated shells. They also produce a considerable frass on which the young grubs feed till they are able to bore into the grains. [email protected]/zoologgy

108. Rice Moth ( Corcyra caphalonica ) [email protected]/zoologgy

109. SYSTEMATIC POSITION Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Pyralidae Subfamily: Galleriinae Tribe: Tirathabini Genus: Corcyra Species: C. cephalonica [email protected]/zoologgy

110. DiSTRiBUTiON: Found in most countries. Important stored grain pest of our country. [email protected]/zoologgy

111. FEEdS ON : Feeds on rice and maize grains. Also infest oil seeds and dry fruits. [email protected]/zoologgy

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113. LiFE HiSTORY : Complete metamorphosis Egg  Larva (Caterpillar)  Pupa  Adult. Siphoning type of mouthparts. [email protected]/zoologgy

114. The Rice Moth (Corcyra cephalonica) is a pyraloid moth of the family Pyralidae. It is – as far as is known – the only living species of the genus Corcyra. The rice moths are dark grey insects. They breed in march to November. Larvae hibernate in winter and pupates in spring. The emerging moths are nocturnal and live for 2 to 4 days. The female lays eggs singly or in small groups on the grains, bags or other objects in the godowns. [email protected]/zoologgy

115. Creamy white larvae emerge in 4 to 7 days and feed under silken, weblike covers, preferring partially damaged grains. Hey become full grown in 21 to 41 days after 5 moults. They now prepare silken cocoon among the grains for pupation. They change into adults in 9 to 14 days. The entire life cycle takes about 33 to 52 days. There about 6 generations in a year. [email protected]/zoologgy

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117. DAMAGE : The larvae damage the rice and maize grains. With heavy infestation, entire stock of grains is changed into a webbed mass with foul smell. The grains become unfit for human consumption Also infest oil seeds and dry fruits. [email protected]/zoologgy

118. CONTROL Control measures include physical, chemical and biological measures. PHYSICAL CONTROL: Manipulation of the storage environment, making it less favourable for the insects. Exposure of seeds to sun for 3 days in summer kill the pests. Stores should be clean and well ventilated. One godown should be used to store only one kind of grain. [email protected]/zoologgy

119. [email protected]/zoologgy

120. 5. Cracks, holes and crevices in the walls ,floors and ceilings of the store house should be prevented for not letting the pests in. CHEMICAL CONTROL: Contact poisons and fumigants are used to kill the pests. Pyrethrins of plant origins are mostly used due to low mammalian toxicity, unstable to sunlight, rapid breakdown. Fenvalerate and Deltamethrin are synthetic pyrethroids, highly toxic to the larvae. [email protected]/zoologgy

121. BIOLOGICAL CONTROL: This is a safe method to get rid of insect pests of stored grain. Some of the biological species which are predators of the infecting pest are listed: NATURAL ENEMY TYPE LIFE STAGES 1. Acaropsellina docta Predator Eggs/ Larvae 2. Amphibolous venator Predator Larvae 3. Antrocephalus mitys Parasite Larvae/ Pupae 4. Blattisocious keegani Predator Eggs/ Larvae 5. Artema atlanta Predator Larvae [email protected]/zoologgy

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123. THANKYOU