Natural sources, habitats, and reservoirs of insects associated with stored food products

Abstract

Stored-products insects share biol. characteristics which have effected their wide distribution and made them pests. They apparently tolerate more extreme conditions of temp, and humidity (especially moisture content of food materials) than many less widely distributed forms. Many can survive in foodstuffs with a moisture content far below the optimum. Man usually provides opt. conditions in buildings, warehouses, and food-storage units. Second, some of these insects include in their diet the majority of dry food and drug products of plant and animal origin, exhibiting a wider food range than that generally attributed to most other insects. Nearly all the spp. reproduce almost continuously under favorable conditions and require no winter diapause. The adults are often longlived and may reproduce over a period of yrs. Adults of some of the most important spp. can survive for long periods without food, permitting transportation in the absence of suitable food. Finally, most of them are small-sized and can remain undetected until a large population has been built up. Several (Bruchidae, Sitophilus, spp., Sitotroga, sp.,) naturally infest seeds and have become pests without evolution of food habits. Many (Cryptophagidae, Myceto-phagidae, Lathridiidae, Acaridae) are actually fungus feeders and seek out molds and fungi in foodstuffs. In nature these spp. live under bark, in nests of birds, mammals, and insects, or in decomposing plant materials. Many general scavengers on dead plant materials will infest stored products[long dash]chiefly moths (phycitids, pyralids), but also anobiids, nitidulids. Scavengers on dead animal materials include Dermestes, Piophila, Tineola. Scavengers or semipredators living under bark have also become pests[long dash]including Tenebrionidae (flour beetles, mealworms), Cucujidae, and Ostomatidae. Wood-borers include Ptinidae, Anobiidae, Bostrichidae, and Scolytidae. Insect nests have contributed several of the Galleriidae, Phycitidae, Ptinidae, and Dermestidae. The pollen stored by bees may have influenced evolution of food habits and served as a bridge between zoophagy and phytophagy. Many spp. associated with stored food products are predators and parasites of other insects present. Of these, Histeridae, Corynetidae, and Anthocoridae are probably attracted to the products and habitat directly rather than by specific insects present. Primary natural reservoirs of stored food products pests are: bark and decomposing wood; nests and food caches of other insects, especially bees, wasps, and ants; and nests of birds and rodents. || ABSTRACT AUTHORS: E. G. Linsley