Extent of damage of unhusked stored rice by Sitotroga cerealella Oliv. (Lepidoptera, gelechiidae) in Bangladesh

Abstract

Sitotroga cerealella Oliv. causes a considerable amount of damage to unhusked stored rice in Bangladesh, but the details of the extent of such loss are not known. The studies conducted here showed that from 3 to 12 per cent of the rice kernels are attacked over a period of 6-9 months. This causes a total weight loss varying from 4·2 to 11·9 per cent with an average of 8·1 per cent. Only about 56·3 per cent of each infested kernel is needed for complete larval development. The extent of the pest attack was increased by high moisture content. The proportion of kernels of the sundried rice attacked varied from 2 to 4 per cent, whereas it rose to about 45·5 per cent of kernels soaked in water for 18 hr before exposure to infestation. © 1974.