Feeding preferences and progeny production of Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) in small grains

Abstract

The lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) is a primary pest of stored wheat. Many authors studied its development on this cereal. The wheat is commonly stored together with other grain, especially barley, rye, oats and triticale. The objectives of this study are to assess the feeding preferences for the small grains (wheat, barley, rye, oat and triticale) and to evaluate their susceptibility/resistance to progeny production of R. dominica. The mean survival rate of R. dominica adults, progeny emergence and amounts of insect-damaged grains and dockage in various small grain species were determined. Also, influence of R. dominica feeding on chemical properties (moisture protein and ash contents in grains) was found out. The influence of the grain species on the development of R. dominica was significant. The highest mortality of parents and the lowest progeny counts in oats, while triticale is very suitable for development of R. dominica, much more then wheat, as a primary host. The biggest amount of damage kernals and dust were found in triticale. The contents of moisture, protein and ash in the grain has been changed due to feeding of R. dominica.

Žitni kukuljičar (rizoperta) - Rhyzopertha dominica (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) je primarna štetočina uskladištene pšenice. Njen razvoj na ovoj vrsti strnih žita proučavali su brojni autori. Pšenica se obično skladišti sa drugim strnim žitima, posebno ječmom, raži, ovsom i tritikaleom. Ovo istraživanje je sprovedeno u cilju ispitivanja preferencija u ishrani R. dominica u strnim žitima (pšenica, ječam, raž, ovas i tritikale) i ocene osetljvosti/otpornosti ovih žita na pojavu potomstva R. dominica. Utvrđen je prosečan broj preživelih jedinki R. dominica, pojava potomstva i broj zrna oštećenih insektima, kao i količina prašine u različitim vrstama strnih žita. Takođe, utvrđen je uticaj R. dominica na hemijske osobine strnih žita (sadržaj vlage, proteina i pepela u zrnu). Uticaj vrste žitarica na razvoj R. dominica bio je značajan. Najveća smrtnost roditelja i najmanja pojava potomstva utvrđena je kod ovsa, dok je tritikale veoma povoljan za razvoj R. dominica, mnogo više nego pšenica, kao primarni domaćin. Najveća količina oštećenih zrna i prašine nađeni su u tritikaleu. Ishrana R. dominica je dovela do promene sadržaja vlage, proteina i pepela u zrnu.