Reducing the Damage Rate Caused by the Beetle Insect Trogoderma Granarium (Everts) (Coleoptera: Dermatecidae) in Stored Wheat Grains

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine how the wheat spike components can help in protecting or reducing the damage rate in stored wheat grains from the infection by the khapra beetle. Two types of sewn bags were used, polypropylene sutli bags and old jute bags, for storage. Several spike components (non-ground, ground remaining spike components and spike holder) of wheat plants were examined in protecting the stored wheat grains from the infestation of the khapra insect. The results showed that stored grains in the form of whole crops in bags of polypropylene sutli reduced the damage percentages in the third and second year of storage to the lowest levels 16.66% and 9.66%, compared to the control treatment that reached 50.66% and 20.66% respectively. While, the damage rate for storing grains in bags of old jute was 11.33% compared to the polypropylene sutli bags 8.77%. The smallest number of the insect skin sheddings was noticed in polypropylene sutli bags with 5.22 skins. The storage of grains with whole crop component in the third year has a great role in reducing the damage proportion to the lowest level (2.77%). The number of insect skin sheddings decreased to the lowest level (1.88 skin/bag) compared to the control treatment that reached 14.88 skin/bag. In conclusion, wheat spike components can play a great role in reducing the damage rate in stored grains in the polypropylene sutli bags against the khapra beetle.