Seasonal patterns of stored-product insects at a rice mill

Authors: MCKAY, TANJA - Arkansas State University; WHITE, AMANDA - Arkansas State University; STARKUS, LAURA - Arkansas State University; Arthur, Franklin; Campbell, James - Jim

Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/23/2017
Publication Date: 3/15/2017
Publication URL: http://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/5883110
Citation: Mckay, T., White, A.L., Starkus, L., Arthur, F.H., Campbell, J.F. 2017. Seasonal patterns of stored-product insects at a rice mill. Journal of Economic Entomology. 110(3):1366-1376. https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tox089.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jee/tox089

Interpretive Summary: Rice mills consist of structures were bulk rough rice is stored, rough rice is milled and processed, and finished rice is stored prior to shipment and these structures are potentially vulnerable to invasion by dispersing stored product insect pests. Using pheromone baited placed along exterior walls of major buildings and along the property line fence it was shown that the lesser grain borer [Rhyzopertha dominica], warehouse beetle [Trogoderma variabile], cigarette beetle [Lasioderma serricorne], and Indianmeal moth [Plodia interpunctella] exhibited seasonal variation in abundance. The warehouse beetle was the most abundant species with flight activity between mid-March and November. Lesser grain borer was the second most abundant species with flight activity from mid-April through October. The Indianmeal moth was the next most abundant species, with adults captured all year round, but with peak captures between March and late October. Trap captures for all four species increased with an increase in temperature and this relationship was described by linear and non-linear equations. Knowing seasonal patterns in insect activity will allow rice facilities to better understand when facilities are most vulnerable to pest invasion and make adjustments to management programs. Further research is still needed to address linkages between outside stored product insect flight activity and immigration and emigration from rice mill structures.

Technical Abstract: The temporal and spatial patterns in flight activity outside of a rice mill were evaluated for the lesser grain borer [Rhyzopertha dominica (F.)], warehouse beetle [Trogoderma variabile (Ballion)], cigarette beetle [Lasioderma serricorne (F.)], and Indianmeal moth [Plodia interpunctella (H'bner)] to determine critical times of year when the mill would be vulnerable to invasion. Insect activity was monitored using pheromone-baited glue traps (N = 99) from June 2008 to October 2010. Traps were placed along exterior walls of all major buildings and along the fence around the perimeter of the facility. T. variabile was the most abundant species with flight activity between mid-March and November. No activity of T. variabile was observed during December through March. R. dominica was also abundant with activity in mid-April through October. A few adult R. dominica were captured in traps during winter months in the first year of study. Trap captures for all four species increased with an increase in temperature and can be described by linear and non-linear equations. Knowing seasonal patterns in insect activity allows rice facilities to better understand when facilities are most vulnerable to pest activity. However, this study demonstrates that more research is needed to address how insects are immigrating and emigrating within and around a rice mill.