Effect of microwave radiation on the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Herbst)

Approximately 50% of total harvested cereal grains are lost during the post-harvest handling and storage, and insects are the main cause for not only quantity (reductions in weight) but also quality. In the present study the effect of microwave radiation was studied on one of the stored product pest, the flour beetle Tribolium castaneum (Hersbt). Adult insects were obtained from infested flour products at stores specialized in selling cereal and stored products from Sakaka. Insects with its food media inside sac were exposed to microwave radiation for 15, 30, 45 and 60 sec for each radiation power. Tribolium castaneum beetles were exposed to microwave for 15, 30 and 45 sec. This result revealed that the mortality of immature and adults reached 100% in 15 and 45 sec, respectively.